Bastia

Bastia
Corse-bastia-port-ciel-brumeux.jpg
The port
Coat of arms of Bastia
Bastia is located in France
Bastia
Administration
Country France
Region Corsica
Department Haute-Corse
Arrondissement Bastia
Canton 6 cantons
Intercommunality Bastia
Mayor Émile Zuccarelli (PRG)
(2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation 0–963 m (0–3,159 ft)
(avg. 30 m/98 ft)
Land area1 19.38 km2 (7.48 sq mi)
Population2 43,577  (2006)
 - Density 2,249 /km2 (5,820 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 2B033/ 20200
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Bastia (French and Corsican: Bastia) is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France located in the northeast of the island of Corsica at the base of Cap Corse. It is also a city, the second largest on Corsica after Ajaccio, and the capital of the department.

Bastia is the principal port of the island and its principal commercial town, especially famous for its wines. According to the 2006 census, Bastia has 43,577 inhabitants. Approximately 10% of the population are immigrants. The unemployment rate in the commune has persistently been one of the highest in France, standing at over 20% in 2004.

Contents

History

Church of St John the Baptist in Bastia

Before the occupation of Corsica by the Genoese, Cardo was a large city. Around the city were little villages where the fishermen of Cardo lived. This little port was called Porto Cardo, meaning "the port of Cardo."

The Genoese felt the need for shelter from the sea storms and in 1380 began to construct, under Governor Leonello Lomellini, a bastiglia, Italian for stronghold or citadel. With time, the bastiglia (Bastia) became more prosperous and important than Cardo. Bastia was the capital of Corsica until 1791.

In 1794, during a war with Revolutionary France, British troops under Admiral Nelson and Lieutenant-General David Dundas briefly captured Bastia.

Climate

Bastia has a Mediterranean climate . The average annual temperature is about 15.3 °C, and there are usually five days of freezing weather per year. The winds are frequent and violent, and the annual rainfall is copious (more than 700 mm). However, there are about 340 days of sunshine per year.

Main sights

Transportation

Road

The main road to Bastia is the RN 193.

Railway

Bastia's train station, which belongs to Corsican Railways, is situated in the city center and connects the city with Ajaccio and Calvi. The Bastia train station is situated downtown and provides connections to Ajaccio and Calvi .

Seaport

In terms of passengers, Bastia is the first French port of the Mediterranean with more than 2.4 million passengers in 2007 . It is the second French port behind Calais (15 million passengers).

Airport

The Bastia – Poretta Airport is located 16 km south of the city, in the town of Lucciana.

Miscellaneous

Famous people

Bastia was the birthplace of:

Sister city

Bastia's sister city is Erding, Bavaria, Germany.

See also

External links