Bonjour mes amis! Monday, May 16, Lee and I explored the largest city in Corsica, as well as the island's political center, Ajaccio. Ajaccio began to develop in 1492 thanks to the Genoese. In 1723 this city became the capital of West Corsica. Ajaccio is famous because Napoleon Bonaparte was born here on August 15, 1769. We took an open-air tour since we had limited time and the weather was beautiful. We saw the ancient Citadelle, the Ajaccio Cathedral, dedicated to Virgin Mary and built in the 16th century, and the Maison Bonaparte which was the house that belonged to the Bonaparte family from 1682, and where Napoléon was born. We traveled the Route des Sanguinaires which is a panoramic road which runs along the northern shore of the Golfe d'Ajaccio, passing by the locals' favorite sandy beaches. This road continued through residential areas, beautiful homes overlooking the azure blue water. The Pointe de la Parata makes for the dramatic end to this road. The cape is dominated by the Tour de la Parata, a tower built by the Genoese in 1608 to defend the island against pirate raids. A path leads to the end of the cape. From there, you can see the red Îles Sanguinaires. These are maquis-covered cliffs that emerge from the sea a short distance from the Pointe de la Parata. There is a lighthouse on the largest of the islands, built in 1840. Legend has it that in 1863 the French author, Alphonse Daudet lived in the lighthouse. He described the Sanguinaires as wild islands populated by wild goats, Corsican ponies and an osprey. This coastline with the Îles Sanguinaires was beyond description!!
Mme. Wallace
No comments:
Post a Comment