Bastia

For the argentinian soccer player, see Adrián Bastía.

Bastia
Bastia
Location within Corsica region  Bastia
Administration
Country	France
Region	Corsica
Department	Haute-Corse
Arrondissement	Bastia
Intercommunality	Bastia
Mayor	Émile Zuccarelli (2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation	0–963 m (0–3,159 ft) (avg. 30 m or 98 ft)
Land area1	19.38 km2 (7.48 sq mi)
Population2	43,477  (2008)
- Density	2,243 /km2 (5,810 /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 without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Bastia (French pronunciation: [bas.tja], 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 the second-largest city in 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.

History

The citadel, built by the genoans

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 (60 °F), 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.^{[citation needed]}

Sights

• The Museum of Corsica
• The former palace of the Genoese governors, which now accommodates a museum of Corsican ethnography. The museum covers many topics: geology, flora, history, arts and folk traditions, contemporary art.
• The fortress with its keep and its 16th century bell tower protects Terra-Nova and offers great views over the old port, Terra Vecchia, the mountain and the coast.

Population

Historical population of Bastia

Year	1800	1806	1821	1831	1836	1841	1846	1851	1856	1861
Population	11,336	7922	9316	9531	13,610	14,568	15,004	15,984	16,002	19,304

Year	1866	1872	1876	1881	1886	1891	1896	1901	1906
Population	21,535	17,850	17,572	20,100	20,765	23,397	22,552	25,425	27,338

Year	1911	1921	1926	1931	1936	1946	1954	1962	1968
Population	29,412	33,094	36,376	44,628	52,208	49,327	42,729	31,375	38,746

Year	1975	1982	1990	1999	2008
Population	42,810	44,020	37,845	37,884	43,477

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 Bastia with 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.

Personalities

Bastia was the birthplace of:

• Vincent de Moro Giafferi (1878–1956), lawyer, nicknamed the "Grand Moro"
• César Campinchi (1882–1941), lawyer and French politician
• César Vezzani (1888–1951), operatic tenor singer
• Jose Luccioni (1903–1978), operatic tenor singer
• John Bernard (1893–1983), American politician, representing Minnesota in the House of Representatives
• Angelo Rinaldi (born 1940), writer and member of the Académie française
• Yves Simonpaoli (born 1928), painter and professor of dentistry
• Henry Padovani, original guitarist of The Police.
• Adil Rami, football player
• Baptiste Giabiconi (born 1989), Male model and pop singer

Twin towns

• Erding, Germany
• Viareggio, Italy

See also

• Sporting Club de Bastia
• Bastia - Poretta Airport
• Communes of the Haute-Corse department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Official website (French)
• Wikitravel
• Bastia Fansite (in French)
• Unofficial Guide to Bastia Airport