The Governors' Palace
With direct flights from Marseilles, Nice, Lyon, Paris-Orly and Toulouse, Air Corsica will transport you all year round to discover the city of Bastia and its riches such as the Governors' Palace, an historical monument whose importance has traversed the centuries.
The history of the Governors' Palace begins with the construction of a Genoese tower in 1380 by Leonello Lomellino to establish the Genoese Governors' place of residence, the island's administrators.
It was only in the sixteenth century, under Louis XV that the site was transformed into a palace with the expansion of the east wing. The Board of Governors, created by Louis XV, sat there until the revolution, the date on which the palace was taken over by the British administration, who turned it into a barracks. This military role was confirmed in 1796 by the French who installed the "Watrin" barracks there. The building suffered significant damage in 1943 when the Germans planted a time bomb there. Finally, it reverted back under French State rule and was classified as a historic monument in 1977, only becoming the property of the city of Bastia in 1986.
Renovations are currently underway to make this former Genoa Governors' Palace an art and history museum. It has the most beautiful vista of which to discover Bastia, between sea and mountain : from the Governors' Palace garden, the view is uninterrupted with a totally circular panorama! From there, you will have a 360° view surveying all the charms of Bastia : the sun burnt grey roofs, the majestic Saint Jean-Baptiste church, the old port, the quays, the new port, the infinite blue sea, green hills… Total enchantment with a little giddiness as a bonus.
If the Governors' Palace in Bastia is worth a detour, the city abounds in other discoveries to be made, and Air Corsica suggests you board one of its flights bound for Upper Corsica so that you can be near them !
