24 hours in… Bastia

Bastia is everything a Mediterranean city should be; sultry, vibrant, and roughish. Throw in a large mix of Corsican culture, history and quite possible the most beautiful people of the entire Mediterranean, and Bastia becomes a special, pulsating, sexy city.

It is a city that will provide a firm handshake of a welcome to the traveller keen to explore the stunning island of Corsica.

The crumbling, pastel coloured buildings of Bastia add to the harsh appeal of the city. And Bastia is still a city for the traveller and not the tourist.

Many arrivals to Bastia simply pass through the city on their way to the beaches, or the mountain trails that attract thousands of walkers every year. The  city deserves at the very least a visit from any 24hrtraveller.

Does that not make it a rectangle…?

The long, open Place Saint-Nicolas is a wonderful place to sit and watch the world go by. There are numerous bars and restaurants for which the fatigued traveller can frequent in the excuse of revitalisation. The tree-lined square is also home to the city’s tourist office, and a rather fine statue of Napoleon, a Corsican by birth.

To the south of the square the traveller will encounter the Old Port. A beautiful marina now favoured by the numerous yachties that cruise the Mediterranean.

The eagle-eyed traveller will spot a series of steps that ascend a steep hill close to the port. The citadel is awaiting those that conquer these muscle-burning inducing steps.

Lazy…

The citadel is a wonderful location to whittle away a couple of hours. Casually wandering in among the pretty, flaking buildings and admiring the views of both the city and the Mediterranean.

There is a calming tranquillity of the citadel and with plenty of available shade it is a good place to seek comfort from the intense summer sun.

Back down to earth…

There is an energetic undercurrent that passes through the city, making Bastia the perfect place in which to galvanise in preparation for further exploration of Corsica. And with the Mediterranean gently lapping and its shores there is an abundance of excellent seafood on which the traveller can gorge on in one of the many restaurants that line the promenade.

Wandering in among the tenement buildings the traveller will find narrow alleyways which demand exploration. While at night the city becomes a hive of activity as the bars fill up and moped riding youths congregate, offering longing looks in the direction of groups of beautiful Corsican girls.

I’m tired…

Budget accommodation could prove difficult to find not only in Bastia but Corsica in general. The cheapest rooms in Bastia are normally in the region of €50 (depending on the season). And for those thinking of exploring the coastal regions it would be well worth considering the option of camping.

Pack some ginger…

The busy port has ferries arriving from both France and Italy. With crossings from France departing Marseille, Nice and Toulon. And Livorno, Genoa, Piombino and Savona from Italy. There is also a route serving the Italian island of Sardinia, which departs Golfo Aranci.

No longer a question of life or death…

The city’s railway station is situated to the west of the port and is easily reachable within ten minutes by foot.

The Corsican rail network has seen large investment and welcome improvement over the past couple of years. The replacement of the old ‘bone-shakers’  with smart, new, faster trains has shaved an hour off the journey time from Bastia to Ajaccio.

And despite losing the unforgettable experience of travelling the Corsican rail network on one of the struggling ‘bone-shakers’ the changes have once again made travelling by rail across Corsica an attractive option.

Trains to Ajaccio run direct from Bastia and reach the capital in less than 3 hours. The beautiful beaches of north-western Corsica can be reached by taking the Ajaccio bound train as far as Ponte-Leccia.A connecting train will then amble its way down from the mountains to the resorts of I’le Rousse, Algajola, and stunning Calvi.

The traveller may be lucky, or unlucky depending on your take on life (or indeed how much you value your life), in finding the last of the ‘bone-shakers’ operating on this route before their inevitable replacement.

Those travelling on Interrail or Eurail passes are entitled to a 50% discount on all Corsican rail fares.

The Carte Zoom pass is an excellent option for those not travelling by either Interrail or Eurail and it provides unlimited usage on any train over a seven-day period.

The budget traveller will not need this next sentence…

Bastia International Airport is situated 14 miles south-east of the city.

Just go…

Corsica is a beautiful island to explore. And with the dramatic improvement of the rail network it has become an accessible island for the budget traveller. Bastia will welcome the traveller with open arms eager to demonstrate that it is a city that is so much more than simply and entry and exit point.

Useful links…

Handy ferry booking website – www.aferry.com

Or, try booking direct – www.sncm.fr & www.corsica-ferries.co.uk

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Map…

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