Visit Aleria, Corsica - a travel guide

At Aleria, south 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.