Corsica / Bastia - Granite Shores by Clear Blue Waters
On an almost barren granite relief, mirrored by crystal blue waters, sits a town with a long history that is home to a special breed of people – the proud Corsican – which invite you to sample a bit of their mixed heritage, Italian, French and Arab.
General Info
If Ajaccio is the best known town on the French island of Corsica, then Bastia is the biggest port and commercial node and well-known base for yacht charter. It lies on the north-western part of the island, near the Cap Corse. The name derives from the Italian “bastiglia” which stands for the fortress built here by the Genoese in 1380.
Travel & Arrival
Flying into Bastia is done via the Bastia Poretta airport which is situated 20 km south of the town center. Being an international airport it has links to all the major French cities, not to mention some in Germany, England, Morocco, Sweden, Luxembourg and Italy. Operators that fly to and from this Yacht Charter destination are Air France, British Airways, Germanwings, Lufthansa and Luxair.
Due to its size and location, the Bastia port is the second French port in matter of traffic, handling some 2 million passengers each year. Yacht Charter tourists can take a ferry from Marseille, Nice, Toulon, Genoa, Livorno, Savone and La Spezia.
Avant & Apres Sail
Lodging can be found around the old-looking town that hasn’t changed its façade in a long time. In fact, this is one of the reasons so many Yacht Charter parties come here, for the old Mediterranean feel Bastia seems to pull off effortlessly.
One of the most eye-catching parts of town has to be the old port (Vieux Port) with its numerous colorful buildings shinning in the sunset. Yacht Charter guests will notice that the best pubs and restaurants are huddled together, providing the wonderful and refreshing mix that is Corsican cuisine, an exotic blend of Eastern, French and Italian foods.
There are many places worth sightseeing thanks to the long history of the location and the way time seems to have stood still here. That’s why Yacht Charter clients should always start their visit with the Terra Nova, the old part of the town which used to be known as a residence for the poor but now it’s a place for the upper classes.
Other places that grab your eye are the St. Marie cathedral, the Oratoire de Sainte Croix with its famous Black Christ (Cristu Negru) found floating by fishermen in 1428 (a special tradition ensures that the first catch is always offered to the Black Christ), the yellow-orange tinted Palace of Governors and of course, the Musee d’Ethnographie Corse.
The old port does manage to attract a fair number of people with a number of yachts and boats, so if you don’t own one, make sure you contact a Yacht Charter company and get a glimpse of the port from the waves.
Activities & Events
Despite its rather small population, Bastia is vibrant with events and festivals, like the yearly Mediterranean Film Festival that changes date each year and the music festival Musicales de Bastia that starts off every year mid-October which pays tribute to its Corsican ancestry.
Outdoorsy Yacht Charter crews will find a lot to do here, as the town is set on a mountainous region and home to one of Europe’s challenging long-distance walk routes, the GR20. This is the best way to take in the island’s granite rock mountains that divide the island in two.
Out to sea, the clearness of the water is perfect for Yacht Charter crew members that want to go diving, especially in August when air and water temperatures reach optimum values. Make sure you stop by the Reserve Naturelle des Bouches de Bonifacio which offers some of the best diving in the Mediterranean. A Yacht Charter guide might also provide you with locations where to go "swim with the fishes".