Very similarly to Malta, another Mediterranean gem we urge you to visit, Corsica is packed with history! 

Marked by a series of conquests and competing cultural influences, Corsica has been of tremendous strategic position in the Mediterranean for thousands of years. Inhabited since the Mesolithic era, there’s evidence of early human settlements dating back to around 9000 BC. Corsica was colonized by the Greeks in the 6th century BC, followed by the Etruscans and the Carthaginians until it fell under Roman control in 237 BC following the First Punic War. 

Corsica’s location in the Mediterranean made it a key military outpost for the Romans, serving as a defensive stronghold and a base for naval operations, as well as a crucial link in the supply chain between Rome and its territories in Gaul, Iberia, and North Africa. 

Corsica was known for its agricultural produce, including grains, olives, and wine, as well as timber from the island’s forests, a valuable resource for shipbuilding and construction. The Romans implemented their administrative and legal systems in Corsica, building infrastructure such as roads, aqueducts, and settlements that facilitated the island’s integration into the empire. Larger towns like Mariana and Aleria featured typical Roman amenities like baths, forums, and temples.

As would become a bit of a theme in Corsican history, Corsica was never fully pacified and remained fairly resistant to Roman rule throughout. The island was known for its banditry and the rebellious nature of its inhabitants, which required a continuous military presence and occasional punitive expeditions by Roman forces.

After the fall of Rome, Corsica experienced another turbulent period, with successive invasions by the Vandals, Byzantines, and Lombards, until it came under the influence of the Papacy in the 9th century, which then delegated control to the maritime republics of Pisa and later Genoa. This period saw the rise of feudalism and the construction of many of Corsica’s iconic fortifications that you can still see today, as well as many monastic orders. Local chieftains and clans often resisted Pisan control, with many periods of rebellion and conflict. This resistance set the stage for future struggles for autonomy, particularly against Genoese domination.

Speaking of, the Genoese held Corsica from the 13th century– a rule that lasted for nearly five centuries. Genoa established a robust administrative structure on the island, appointing governors and other officials to manage Corsican affairs, promoting the cultivation of olives, chestnuts, and vineyards, promoting Catholicism, and introducing land reforms. The island was divided into pieve (administrative districts), each overseen by a Genoese official. 

Genoa invested in the development of Corsican towns and cities, constructing roads, bridges, and public buildings. Notable urban centers like Bastia and Calvi owe much of their historical architecture to this period– keep an eye out for citadels, watchtowers, and fortified towns across Corsica from this time period. 

It’s definitely worth noting that this Genoese occupation was marked by significant economic exploitation and local resistance, most famously led by Sampiero Corso in the 16th century, a Corsican noble who sought to liberate the island from Genoese domination. The struggle for independence continued, culminating in the Corsican Republic’s brief period of self-governance under Pascal Paoli, a prominent Corsican patriot and leader, from 1755 to 1769. In 1755, Paoli established the Corsican Republic, a period of self-governance that lasted until 1769. Under his leadership, Corsica adopted a democratic constitution and implemented various reforms aimed at achieving independence from Genoa.

In 1768, Genoa, unable to maintain control over Corsica amid ongoing conflicts and financial difficulties, ceded the island to France in the Treaty of Versailles. This transfer marked the end of Genoese rule and the beginning of French sovereignty over Corsica. Despite initial resistance, it was eventually integrated into the French state and remains so to this day. The island is perhaps best known for being the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was born in Ajaccio in 1769. 

Throughout the last centuries, Corsica has experienced significant emigration, but retained a strong sense of its unique cultural identity through language and cuisine, which you will certainly experience during your visit. The 20th century saw a rise in nationalist movements advocating for greater autonomy and the preservation of the Corsican language and traditions, and today, Corsica enjoys a degree of administrative autonomy within France. You will see a lot of graffiti about liberation, echoing sentiments like “Francesi fora” (“French out”) and related expressions as you explore the island.