Half day tour in Napoleon’s City Ajaccio

Ajaccio, town and capital of Corse-du-Sud département, Corsica région, France. It is a Mediterranean port on the west coast of the island of Corsica. Napoleon’s birthplace, Maison Bonaparte, is now a museum, as is part of the town hall. The original settlement of Ajax was founded by the Romans 2 miles (3 km) north of the present site, to which the town was removed by the Genoese in 1492. Save for the period 1553–59, the town did not become French until 1768. From 1793 to 1811, Ajaccio was the capital of Liamone département, and in 1976 it was made capital of Corse-du-Sud département, one of the two into which the island was divided. The economy rests largely on tourism, but there is some light industry, including the manufacture of aeronautical components. There is a small commercial port and yachting harbour as well as a science park. Ajaccio also has a long tradition as an administrative centre. It is the seat of a prefect and a bishopric. Regular air and ferry services connect Ajaccio to the French mainland.

The Cours Napoléon is the main artery of Ajaccio city center in its southern part and the Octroi-Sainte Lucie district in its northern part. The Cours Napoléon pays homage to Napoleon I (1769-1821), born in Ajaccio, Emperor of the French from May 18, 1804 to April 6, 1814 and from March 20, 1815 to June 22, 1815.

Maison Bonaparte is the ancestral home of the Bonaparte family. It is located on the Rue Saint-Charles in Ajaccio on the French island of Corsica. The house was almost continuously owned by members of the family from 1682 to 1923. Napoleon Bonaparte's great-great-grandfather Giuseppe Buonaparte first moved into the Casa Buonaparte in 1682. Originally, the house was partitioned between different families; however, after Giuseppe married Maria Colonna di Bozzi, who owned a portion of the house, he purchased the remaining sections. The house was later expanded and re-decorated by Carlo Buonaparte after his marriage to Maria Letizia Ramolino. With the exception of Joseph Bonaparte, all of their children were born in the Casa Buonaparte.

This square is dominated by the huge Napoleon monument with two eagles in front of him and an immense leaning stele evoking his victories. As for Napoleon he adopts the classic stance - it is a replica of the one in the Paris Cours d'honneur in Les Invalides.

Place de Gaulle is located in Ajaccio. This square, formerly called Place du Diamant, symbolizes its status as an Imperial City, which is proud of its history and its distinguished citizen Napoleon Bonaparte. In addition, the square overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and is a great place to walk.

The musée Fesch is the central museum of fine arts in Ajaccio on Corsica. Located within the gated Palais Fesch, it is in the town's Borgu d'Ajaccio quarter. It was established by Napoleon I's uncle, cardinal Joseph Fesch (a Prince of France from 1807), in Fesch's birthplace. The most impressive painting collections at the museum are arranged in several halls in the specific periods of the Early Italian and Renaissance, the Roman Baroque and the Neapolitan Baroque. The museum contains one of France's finest collections of Italian old masters, including Botticelli, Giovanni Bellini, Cosmè Tura, one of the most important Napoleonic collection of paintings and memorabilia and a Corsican Collection of paintings. The four-storey building which displays more than 400 works of the collection in 27 rooms features the Napoleonic Collection in the basement.