Bastia (Corsica France)

Bastia is a port city located on Corsica Island's northeastern coast. The town has a population of around 43,000, ranking it Corsica's 2nd-largest - following Ajaccio. Port Bastia (locode FRBIA) serves large-sized passenger ships (ferries, cruise vessels, superyachts) and also has two large marinas that serve smaller boats and yachts.

Bastia is the island’s principal port (passenger and cargo) and main commercial town. Following the Coronavirus crisis, in 2022 the Port had scheduled a total of 50 cruise ship calls (booked berthings) most of which were from smaller-sized vessels owned by ultra-luxury brand lines like Seabourn, Oceania, Hapag-Lloyd, Windstar, Ritz-Carlton, Star Clippers, CroisiEurope, Tradewind Voyages UK (Golden Horizon), Phoenix Reisen.

Corsica Ports' 2022 schedule had listed a total of 473 cruise ship calls (135% increase over 2021), including 18 maiden calls and 4 by new cruise companies.

Cruiseferries link Bastia with port cities in France (Nice, Toulon, Marseille) and Italy (Livorno, Savona, Genoa, Piombino, Portoferraio Elba Island, Golfo Aranci Sardinia Island). Ferry routes include:

• Bastia-Livorno by Corsica Ferries (12 weekly crossings) and Moby Lines (7 weekly crossings), travel time 4,5 hours
• Bastia-Savona by Corsica Ferries (3 crossings) 6,5 hours)
• Bastia-Genoa by Moby Lines (7 crossings) 7,5 hours
• Bastia-Piombino by Corsica Ferries (2 crossings) ~3 hours
• Bastia-Portoferraio Elba by Corsica Ferries (2 crossings) 1,5 hours
• Bastia-Golfo Aranci Sardinia by Corsica Ferries (2 crossings) 5 hours
• Bastia-Nice by Corsica Ferries (5 crossings) ~6 hours
• Bastia-Toulon by Corsica Ferries (8 crossings) 8 hours)
• Bastia-Marseille by Corsica Linea (7 crossings) 12,5 hours

About 10% of the population are immigrants. Commune’s unemployment rate has persistently been among the highest in France, standing at more than 20% in 2004. The inhabitants are known as Bastiais (Bastiaises).

The old town (Terra Vecchia) surrounds the harbor's central part and its network of alleys is connected by vaulted passages. Sights of interest include the Law Court, Theatre, City Hall and the classical Church of San Giovanni Battista. From here cruisers can visit the St Florent resort or Cap Norse, rugged peninsula with profuse wildflowers, quiet traditional fishing villages, and vineyards.

Settled in the 14th century by the Genoese who built a fortress in order to protect it, Bastia was the capital of the isle until 1791. In 1745 the city was held by the British during the War of the Austrian Succession. However, it was soon recaptured by the Genoese, who sold the island to France in 1768. Bastia was again occupied by the British from 1794 to 1796, during the French Revolution. During WW2 (1939-45), the city was occupied by the Germans (1942-43).