THE TERRA NOVA CITADEL
Citadel, home to the Governors' Palace, Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral and Santa Croce Church in Bastia
Discovering Bastia's perched citadel is well worth the effort: the best way is to climb up from the Old Port via the Romieu staircase and the descent of the Gabella to arrive at the great gate rebuilt under Louis XVI, as revealed by an inscription on its pediment. But don't worry: an elevator, further along the south quay of the Old Port, also provides access to this bastiglia, the bastille that gave its name to the town and was built in 1380 by the Genoese governor Leonello Lomellini. Called Terra Nova in contrast to the pre-existing Vieux-Port, the citadel was home to administrations and ruling families when Bastia was the Genoese capital of Corsica. To the north of the citadel, the Place du Donjon is surrounded by the Governors' Palace, now home to the Bastia Museum, and restaurants offering superb views of the Old Port and the deep blue sea. Don't hesitate to lose yourself in the adjacent alleyways, where time seems to stand still. To the south, you'll find the imposing Santa Maria Assunta cathedral and its magnificent adjoining chapel, Santa Croce. In summer, you can take an underground staircase to the powder magazine for a swim. In 1869, some of the citadel's inhabitants felt that it was no longer necessary to protect themselves, and circulated a petition to have the fortifications demolished so that they would be less isolated from the rest of the city. Fortunately, their request was not granted, and the citadel was saved!
Book the Best Activities with Get Your Guide
Members' reviews on THE TERRA NOVA CITADEL
Majestueuse, parfaitement restauré , elle permet d'accueillir aujourd'hui un superbe musée de l'histoire corse , un écrin pour la collection magnifique de tableaux des personnages illustres qui ont fait l'histoire de Bastia et de la Corse
Ce magnifique batiment recevait cette année lors de notre visite ( juin 2017 " une exposition dénommée " CREAZIONE " un événement unique une fois l'an , la réunion et l'exposition de créateurs corses regroupant des couturiers - bijoutiers - maroquiniers - ébéniste d'art - artisans dans le monde de la décoration , un plaisir où durant près de deux, nous sommes allés d'admiration en émerveillement
En fin d'après-midi, rendez-vous sur le vieux port pour voir le chalutier décharger sa pêche et la proposer aux clients impatients qui se pressent devant le petit étal, et le dimanche ne manquez pas le marché!