Bastia is a commune in the department of Haute-Corse, France located in the north-east of the island of Corsica at the base of Cap Corse.
Bastia is the principal port of the island and its principal commercial town and is especially famous for its wines. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Bastiais or Bastiaises. Approximately 10% of the population are immigrants. The commune has been awarded three flowers by the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom in the Competition of cities and villages in Bloom.
Country | France |
---|---|
Region | Corsica |
Department | Haute-Corse |
Canton | Bastia-1, 2, 3 and 4 |
Government | |
Mayor (2020–2026) | Pierre Savelli |
Area1 | 19.38 km2 (7.48 sq mi) |
Population (2017-01-01) | 45,715 |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
Town planning
Bastia is primarily a port city so the sea has a predominant place in the spatial organization of the city. Nowadays Bastia has three different ports.
- The Old Port: located in a narrow cove that offers good protection against the Mediterranean weather. It was therefore at the heart of the initial development of the city. Today it still is home to many yachts and fishing boats but it is not so economically vital for the city than the other modern ports, although its tourism and aesthetic appeal makes it an almost official emblem of Bastia. Many bar-cafes and restaurants have opened on its quays whose streets are pedestrian access only in the summer.
- The Commercial Port: a little north of the Old Port, it is the major economic asset of the city. This is especially true in the summer period when thousands of arrivals and departures of passengers and vehicles can sometimes cause long traffic jams along Route nationale N193 despite the existence of a tunnel under the Old Port.
- The Toga Marina: north of the commercial port partly in Ville-di-Pietrabugno is occupied by many sailboats and yachts. There are also several bars, restaurants and nightclubs on its quays.
Economy
The bastiaise agglomeration comntains most of the few industries that exist in Corsica. Bastia is the seat of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bastia and Upper Corsica.
In the Bastia region the Chamber of Commerce and Industry manages the following facilities:
- Bastia Commercial Port: the port can accommodate eight large vessels (6 passenger ships and two others) simultaneously as well as pilot boats and tugs.
- Bastia – Poretta Airport is located south of Bastia agglomeration in the communes of Borgo and Lucciana.
Transport
Road transport
There are three main access roads to Bastia:
- from the South: by the Route nationale N193. This is the major road axis into the Bastia region because it connects the city of Bastia directly or indirectly to all other Corsican towns (Ajaccio, Corte, Porto-Vecchio, Calvi etc.) while also passing through the main cities of the peripheral region of Bastia such as Furiani, Biguglia, Borgo, and Lucciana where Bastia Poretta Airport is located.
- from the West:, by the D81, a road which goes to Saint-Florent via the Col de Teghime.
- from the North: by the D80, which goes in a loop around Cap Corse
Bus transport
The urban area of Bastia is served by a bus network with 14 routes operated by the Autobus Bastiais company.
Rail transport
The Bastia railway station belongs to Chemins de Fer de la Corse and is located in the city centre. There are services to Ajaccio and Calvi.
Sea transport
Despite its small size the port of Bastia is the busiest French port on the Mediterranean Sea with 2,291,944 passengers in 2011.
This makes it the second busiest French port behind Calais (about 15 million passengers).
Education
The commune has 10 kindergartens, 13 primary schools, 5 colleges, and 7 High schools.
There is also a research institute of the engineering school of Arts et Métiers ParisTech (ENSAM). This institute was opened in 2000 and offers doctoral programs and specialized Masters in the field of renewable energy.
Bastia is the location of one of five regional institutes of administration (IRA) in France for the training of future administrative officials.
Health
Bastia has a hospital in the Paese Novu district (Falconaja Hospital) and a clinic (Maymard Clinic) in the city centre as well as another clinic specializing in ophthalmology (Filippi clinic) in the Saint-Antoine district.
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage
The commune has a large number of buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments.
The Governor’s Citadel and Palace
The Governor’s Citadel and Palace (14th century) The former palace of the Genoese governors houses the municipal museum, formerly the Ethnology Museum of Corsica. Abutting the old fortress tower and decorated with a 14th-century campanile, the Palace of Governors over the centuries guarded Terra Nova and beyond the ramparts of the Old Port. The museum collections are organized into four themes: birth and urban growth, centre of power, cultural centre, and the Palace of Governors. The turret of the submarine Casabianca was preserved in the courtyard until the renovations.
Others:
- The Romieu Public Garden (1874)
- The Joan of Arc Garden
- The Law Courts (1856)
- The Old Town Hall Garden (19th century)
- The Villayet Saint-Dominique Garden (19th century)
- The Saint-Antoine Convent Garden (19th century)
- The Napolean Monument (1813)
- The Donati Pleasure Garden
- The Providence Garden (19th century)
- The Flach Garden (19th century)
- The Bon Pasteur Courtyard Garden
- The Villa Fumarolli Pleasure Garden (19th century)
- The Sainte-Victoire Public Garden
- The Maison Castagnola (17th century)
- The Maison de Caraffa (17th century)
- The Mattei Terraces
- The Villa Lota Garden (20th century)
- The Cardo Cemetery Garden (20th century)
- The German Cemetery Garden (20th century)
- The Bosquet Pecunia Green Area
- A Foundry (1870)
- The Cardo Copper Mine (1868)
- The Toga Iron Works (1842)
Religious heritage
The commune has many religious buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments:
- The Old Church at Cardo (13th century)
- The Church of Saint Charles (1612)
- The Church or Oratory of Saint Roch (1604)
- The Parish Centre of Notre-Dame des Victoires (20th century)
- The Church of Notre-Dame de Montserato (18th century)
- The Church of Saint-Étienne de Cardo (1838)
- The Church of the Conception (1611)
The churches contain a very large number of items which are registered as historical objects.
Gastronomy
Some culinary specialties from Bastia and its region:
- Sardines au brocciu: fresh sardines stuffed with Brocciu cheese made from sheep milk;
- Baccalà: from cod; this dish was long considered the dish of the poor in Corsica because its price was affordable and it kept easily due to being heavily salted.
Sports
SC Bastia is the football club for Bastia. The Armand-Cesari Stadium is located in the neighbouring commune of Furiani. The club currently plays in the Championnat National.
Besides SC Bastia there are two other amateur football clubs: ÉF Bastia and another club which used to be known as CA Bastia.
Bastia was also a city-stage in the Tour de France 2013: the arrival point of the first stage from Porto-Vecchio and starting point for the second to Ajaccio.
Bastia is currently the headquarters for the French round of the FIA World Rally Championship.