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Corsica, known to the Ancient Greeks as Kallisto - "the most beautiful" - well deserves the name Island of Beauty. Corsica is one of the three largest islands in the Mediterranean. Half of its population is concentrated in the two main towns of Ajaccio and Bastia while the rest is scattered throughout the island leaving wide stretches of uninhabited terrain and large open spaces among the mountains, the forest and along the coastal area. Trees cover almost half of the countryside where mountain peaks reach the height of 8,900 feet - all enclosed by 600 miles of a captivating coastline. Apart from magnificent sunshine, the quality that makes Corsica so special is its vast variety of people, scenery, traditions and dialects.
Ajaccio is Corsica's largest city as well as cultural center. It is also the birthplace of Napoléon. You can see on the Place de Gaulle the famous equestrian statue of Napoléon encircled by his four brothers. Whilst in Ajaccio, you should take the time to visit the birthplace of Napoléon, the Bonaparte family home.
Bastia, the second biggest city has a host of attractions such as the old port that overlooks the old town, the 17th century church of St. Jean Baptiste and the Chapel of the Conception which were magnificently decorated in the 18th century and the Museum of Corsican Ethnography in the Genovese Governor's Palace.
A stunning sight in Calvi is the Citadel or upper town with 13th-16th century ramparts that stand on a rocky promontory that juts out to the sea. The Gulf of Porto surrounded by red granite cliffs, is also beautiful, even more so when the sun sets.
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