Aléria

Aléria (Corsican: Aleria) is a village of Corsica in Haute-Corse department. Aléria is especially interesting for its past, of which exactly three monuments have survived: Roman ruins, a Genoese fort and a 16th-century church. Well, and another Genoese tower nearby. The sights of Aléria you can see in a couple of hours. The town's small size and relative remoteness from other centres of civilisation make it a good base both for a beach holiday and for exploring this part of Corsica. Absence of tourist crowds is guaranteed and the sights are quite interesting. In 2019, it was home to 2,200 people.

History
The Tavignano estuary and the nearby natural lagoon, now known as Diana's Pond, have attracted people since prehistoric times. According to archaeological evidence, the area around today's Aléria has been continuously inhabited since 6500 BC. The Greek historian Herodotus mentions the port city of Alalia, founded by the Greeks in 566 BC. Another historian, Diodorus Siculus, calls the city Kalaris. Both Alalia and Kalaris are believed to be Aléria, and the town was thus located on the site of the modern village of Katerajo, at the junction of the T10 and D43 roads. Mostly they were residents of the Greek city of Phocaea, which was destroyed by the Persians soon after the foundation of Alelia. In Corsica the Phocians had problems with the Etruscans and Phoenicians who inhabited Sardinia, so they united and sent a large fleet against the Greeks. Consequently, the Greeks were forced to leave the city, and the Etruscans, who settled further south, on the right bank of the Tavignano, occupied it. Finally, during the First Punic War in 259 BC. Aléria was occupied by the Romans, who gradually assimilated the Etruscans.

In 80 BC, the Romans greatly fortified the port, first calling it Aléria, and under Octavian the city became the largest on the island. In 410 there was a catastrophic fire and in 465 the city was devastated by the Vandals. Afterwards, the city gradually fell into decay and dwindled to the size of a small village, which moreover was washed away by rivers, so much so that it had to be moved. The most surprising thing is that when Christianity spread in Corsica in the 6th century, one of the episcopal sees was organised in Aléria. The post of bishop of Aleria existed until 1801. The title was revived in 2002 for the Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Turin, who does not live in Aléria. Later, Aléria was reduced to the status of a village, due to its size, and everything depended on the fact that it would remain an unknown village with a great past. However, in 1945, the Americans managed to eradicate malaria from the eastern part of the island, and Aleria became the centre of a large agricultural region, in the development of which the government invested a lot of money. And in 1957 the excavations of the Roman city began, still in progress which have already transformed Aléria into one of the most famous tourist centres of Corsica.

By car
The T10 Bastia-Bonifacio passes through Aléria via Porto-Vecchio, as does the T50 from Corte. Cars are not allowed to drive through the old city (except for residents). You can leave your car in the just off the T10. The turn-off for the car park is just south of the junction for the D43, which is the capital of Aléria, and is well signposted on the tarmac. The museum is a 5-minute walk from the car park.

By train
There is a former Corsican Railways station, but it has been abandoned for a long time. The easiest way if you want to take the train is to go up to Corte, then take the famous D43 either with a taxi or by renting a car.

By ferry
From the harbours of Bastia and Porto-Vecchio. We strongly advise you to choose the latter for the simple reason that it is the closest to Aléria. But nothing prevents you from choosing to disembark in Bastia and follow the sublime coast of Corsica.

Get around
The city centre of Aléria, Cateragio, is located at the intersection of the T10 and D43 roads, a couple of kilometres from the sea. You may need it to eat or sleep. The old city, with Roman remains and a Genoese fort, is about a kilometre to the south, you have to take the T10. You can drive to the sea and beaches or walk along the D43.

Eat
No less than sixteen restaurants to welcome you here is the list:

Go next

 * Tavignano Valley
 * Corte
 * Bastia
 * Porto-Vecchio