Corsican capital

Ajaccio is the largest city in Corsica and is considered its administrative centre. But what else do we know about him, besides the fact that there was born there such a historically famous person as Napoleon Bonaparte?

The popular interpretation of the name «Ajaccio», linking it with the name of the ancient Greek hero Ajax, is rather from the field of mythology. A more plausible version of linguist scholars is that the name of the city derives from the ancient Greek Αγαθή («good», «good», «convenient»).

Now let’s go down to history. The exact time of Ajaccio’s foundation is unknown. However, during the Ptolemaic times, the coast was already inhabited, and the Romans established their port of Adiacium. The town of Ajaccio is first mentioned in letters from Pope Gregory the Great.

At its present place, Ajaccio was founded in 1492 by the non-Georgian Bank of Genoa. During the first decades, it was fortified the colony of the Republic of Genoa, where Corsicans were forbidden to settle. In 1553–59, the city was under French occupation. The Genoese Fir may have been the main historical site of Ajaccio to this day, If, on August 15, 1769, a great man — a talented politician and brilliant general Napoleon Bonaparte — had not been born in this city. They say that as a child, the future emperor was very fond of watching the change of guard at the gates of the Genoese citadel. In 1793, Ajaccio became the administrative centre of the department of Liamon, and from 1811, the department of Corsica.

Since 1982 there has been a regional parliament in Ajaccio. The establishment of the local parliament as part of the reform of the French Republic during the presidency of François Mitterrand.

Even though Ajaccio is the largest city in Corsica, it is easy to get around in a few hours on eMoped and enjoy all its sights and landscapes.

So hurry up to Ajaccio for eMoped to explore the most interesting places in the city.