Visit Aleria
At Aleria, south-east of Corte (between Bastia et Porto - Vecchio) on the eastern coast of Corsica, it is the Roman ruins that are the big attraction. Little remains of the even earlier Greek settlement in the same spot, although excavations continue to make new finds, and it is apparent that the site has been occupied for at least 8,000 years.
The most impressive ruins include remnants of the Roman town, villa and necropolis that once stood here.
Also at Aleria is a fort constructed towards the end of the 15th century by the Genoans to keep watch over the harbour, now a classified historic monument.
The Museum Jerome-Carcopino, within the fort contains some fascinating finds from the archealogical work, ranging from busts and sculptures to money and pottery, and provides a fascinating glimpse of how life would have been in the town. (The pottery animal heads especially give a real feeling of contact with the earlier residents of the town).
There are also some Etruscan sculptures that predate the Roman occupation of the area by several hundred years.
Both the ruins and the fort at Aleria have excellent views over the sun baked Corsica countryside.
Places to visit near Aleria
The eastern coast of Corsica is less visited than the other regions. Those following the Corsica coast road do pass along the coast here of course.
One particular place of natural beauty is Castagniccia and the villages inland in eastern Corsica - lovely traditional villages and perhaps the least affected by tourism and the changing times that have affected many of the villages in Corsica.
Places to visit near Aleria, Corsica
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