Citadel

Terra Nova

For a long time Bastia consisted of two parts separated by a ring of walls: Terra Vecchia, the oldest built-up part of town by the harbour, and Terra Nova above it. Terra Nova is today’s citadel. This is where political, judicial and religious power had its seat, while trade and commerce went on down by the harbour.

Today the citadel is car-free. Among the brightly painted houses stand the Governors’ Palace, two listed churches and, on the slope down to the Vieux Port, the Jardin Romieu. The fortifications themselves are partly protected as a historic monument.

Governors’ Palace and Musée de Bastia

The Governors’ Palace houses the Musée de Bastia, which covers more than ten centuries of the town’s history. Until 19 December 2026 it is showing the temporary exhibition ‘Corsica-Maghreb, une histoire en miroir’.

• 2 May to 30 September: 10:00 to 18:30, daily in July and August, closed on Mondays in May, June and September
• 1 October to 30 April: 9:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00, closed on Sundays and Mondays
• Closed: 1 and 11 November, 1 and 8 May and the Christmas school holidays
• Admission: reduced for young people aged 10 to 18, students, visitors aged 60 and over, jobseekers and people with disabilities, free for children under ten

Sainte-Marie and Sainte-Croix

The former cathedral of Sainte-Marie is a Baroque building, put up in the 17th century on the site of an older church. Inside stands a statue of the Assumption of the Virgin in solid silver, weighing almost half a tonne. On 15 August it is carried in procession.

Within the citadel walls stand two adjoining churches that share a bell tower. One of them is Sainte-Croix. It dates from the 18th century and is decorated in Louis XV Rococo style, with paintwork and gilding on a white ground. Sainte-Marie and Sainte-Croix are both listed monuments.

Jardin Romieu and Mantinum

On the slope between the citadel and the Vieux Port lies the shady Jardin Romieu. A stone staircase runs down through the garden to the harbour, with a viewpoint along the way. The garden, the staircase and the Rampe Saint-Charles date from the 19th century and are listed.

Above the Vieux Port is the Mantinum, an open-air theatre set in greenery with panoramic views. The Aldilonda seafront promenade is currently closed to the public.

Getting to the citadel

From the Vieux Port you walk up the stone staircase through the Jardin Romieu into the citadel; see Vieux Port and old town. Town bus lines 3 and B serve the museum, and there is also a free shuttle bus from the railway station.

For travel to Bastia, see Getting there; for hotels and other places to stay in town, see Where to stay.