Coordinates: 42°42′03″N 9°27′01″E / 42.70083°N 9.45028°E / 42.70083; 9.45028
Bastia (French & Corsican: Bastia), is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. It is also a city and the capital of the department. Bastia is also an important Corsican port and is famous for its wines.
[edit] Geography
Situated in the northeast of Corsica, at the base of Cap Corse, Bastia is the principal port of the island and its principal commercial town. The average annual temperature is about 15.3 °C, and there are usually five days of freezing weather per year. The wind in Bastia is 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]
[edit] History
Church St Jean Baptiste 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, which means "the port of Cardo."
The Genoese felt the need for shelter from the sea storms and began to construct, in the time of governor Leonello Lomellini, in 1380, a bastiglia, also known as a 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 captured Bastia.
[edit] Economy
The census of 1999 gives the figure of 39,016 inhabitants, an increase of .01% since 1990. Ten percent of the population consists of foreigners. The unemployment rate is very high, 20% in 2004.
[edit] Monuments and places of interest
[edit] Miscellaneous
[edit] Famous people
Bastia was the birthplace of:
[edit] Sister city
Bastia's sister city is Erding, Bavaria, Germany.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
