Ajaccio is the regional capital of Corsica. Built in 1492 by the Genoese settlers, the town, which develops along a vast gulf of the same name, became famous thanks to its "enfant prodige",Napoleon 1st , who was born here on August 15, 1769.

The town is divided into an old part and a new one, which are separated by Place de Gaulle (place du Diamant). The old town, called "vieille ville", is characterized by picturesque streets and buildings from the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, which evoke the memory of Napoleon and of the year when the island became a French region.