Sunday October 6 was a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 20C.
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| View from the balcony- early morning |
We decided to go the Market, which closes at 1:00 p.m. on Sundays.
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| Ferry boats in the harbour this morning |
The market has three parts. First is a covered part with just tables and a number of charcuterie and cheese sellers, with a few baked goods tables. The second part is the back part of the covered building (at the end of the tables in the picture (below). This part has a number of fancier stalls selling prepared goods, wine, and beer. The fish stalls are also on one side of the second covered part.
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| First part with tables with mostly charcuterie, cheeses and backed goods |
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| More permanent structures and fancier roof in the second covered part |
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| Lots of folks having glasses of wine from this booth |
The third part is the outdoor market with fruit and vegetables vendors along with more cheese and charcuterie purveyors. There is also some seating outside for folks to enjoy their fish platters and other goodies.
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Outside part of the market
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| Chez Emilie et Charly- family fruit and veg stand |
We picked up some provisions for dinner. We had been planning to eat out, but as tomorrow is a travel day and as we didn't feel like a big meal, we decided to eat a light dinner in the apartment. It was also nice to be able to get fresh fruit and vegetables and some charcuterie to go along with the sheep cheese we had purchased on Saturday.
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| Another photo of Napoléon as a Roman Consul and the Four Lions |
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| Lots of gold Napoléon triangles on the pavement in this area |
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| I got a better photo of the outside of Maison Bonaparte which we visited on Saturday |
There are a number of small churches as well as the main Cathedral in the centre of Ajaccio. We first stopped at Saint John The Baptist Church, the oldest religious building in Ajaccio. It was built in 1580. Several members of the Bonaparte family were baptised in the church.
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| Église Saint-Jean Baptise |
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| Inside of the church- nave has a vaulted roof which was painted during the 19th century. |
We also passed Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, the main Cathedral in Ajaccio completed in 1593. The building is typical of Counter-Reformation architecture.
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| Buzzy place |
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| Their home made chips |
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| Oddly their sandwiches were on soft bagels-- Alain had salmon and I had chicken and avocado |
After lunch, which was very relaxing, we walked around the Citadel of Ajaccio, a historic fortress that offers panoramic views of the sea. It was built in 1492 on a strategic site by the Genoese in order to protect the city from maritime attacks. It was used as a prison during WWII and was the last destination the Resistance fighter Fred Scamaroni, who had created the Gaullist Corsican Action R2 network in 1941, He had been mandated by de Gaulle in January 1943 to try and bring unity to the Resistance movement. He was betrayed by his radio operator and arrested by the Italian OVRA (Italian counter-espionage) during the night of 18-19 March 1943. He chose to cut his throat with a piece of wire, leaving a last message written in his own blood:"Long live France and long live de Gaulle."
The citadel belonged to the Ministry of Defence until it was passed over to the city of Ajaccio in 2005. Entrance is free and the buildings are very run-down. A few artists have small studios there, but there were only a few people wandering around the grounds when we were there.
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| Outside walls of the citadel |
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| Looking down at play area |
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| At the entrance- bust of General Pierre Lelong |
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| Entranceway |
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| Plaque noting that in August 1914, the 373 Regiment left for the front |
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| Plaque re 173 Infantry Regiment that fought in WWI and WWII |
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| Building C with a few artist studios- quite run-down |
There was not a lot to see inside the walls. We headed back for a view of the beach and the water.
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| View from outer wall |
We passed another small church, Église San Rochellu built at the turn of the 17th century.
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| Outside of the church |
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| Inside |
We then walked up to the Musée Fesch which displays the painting collection amassed by Cardinal Joseph Fesch (1763-1839), Napoléon's maternal uncle. The building was completed in 1839 and significantly restored in 1987.
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| Entrance to the Fesch Museum |
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| Courtyard |
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| Adjoining Imperial Chapel built between 1857-1859 for Napoleon III. It houses the tombs of Cardinal Fesch, Napoleon's parents, and other members of the Bonaparte family. |
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| Statue of Cardinal Fesch |
We were both very tired and it was already late afternoon. We decided to take a pass on a visit to the Museum and to head back to the apartment. Alain made a light dinner and we finished our pack for Monday's bus trip to Bonifacio, our last stop in Corsica. Bonifacio is located on the narrow southernmost part of Corsica. The adventure continues!
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