Department
Museums, galleries and heritage in Corse-du-Sud
20 places to discover across Corse-du-Sud.
Including Cathédrale Sainte-Marie-Assomption, Citadelle de Bonifacio and NapoRama.
Towns to explore
Ajaccio · Bonifacio · Porto-Vecchio · Sari-Solenzara · Zonza
A Department Between History and Landscape
Corse-du-Sud, part of the Corse region, stretches from the Napoleonic capital of Ajaccio to the wild coastline near Piana. Its cultural offer reflects this contrast: urban museums tied to Corsican identity and history sit alongside a coastal art scene concentrated in and around Porto-Vecchio.
The department's most striking natural asset is the Golfe de Porto : calanche de Piana, golfe de Girolata, réserve de Scandola, a UNESCO World Heritage site combining red granite cliffs, a sheltered gulf, and a marine reserve largely inaccessible except by boat — one of the few stretches of Mediterranean coast to have remained essentially untouched by development.
Ajaccio and Porto-Vecchio: Two Distinct Cultural Poles
Ajaccio concentrates the department's historical museums. NapoRama retraces the life of Napoleon Bonaparte through dioramas, a distinctive approach in a city otherwise dense with Napoleonic memorabilia and birthplace sites. The city's gallery scene is smaller but notable, with François Desjobert, L'étrange atelier, and Galerie Espace Farel - Galleria Spaziu Farel.
Porto-Vecchio, by contrast, hosts the highest concentration of art galleries in the department, a reflection of its status as a summer destination for a well-travelled clientele. Iris Galerie Porto-Vecchio, Galerie Ranaldi, Art Gallery Porto Vecchio, Galerie du Levant, and Art'Zzura Galerie
Frequently asked questions
How much time should I plan to visit the Golfe de Porto UNESCO site?
A boat trip to see the calanche de Piana, the Golfe de Girolata, and the Scandola reserve typically takes half a day; viewing the calanche from the coastal road can be done in under an hour.
Is the Golfe de Porto accessible by car?
The calanche de Piana can be seen from the D81 road, but the Scandola reserve itself is a strict nature reserve accessible only by boat, with no landing permitted.
Which town has the most art galleries in Corse-du-Sud?
Porto-Vecchio, with five galleries within or near its old town, making it the easiest place in the department to visit several galleries in one afternoon.
What makes NapoRama different from other Napoleon-related sites in Ajaccio?
NapoRama uses dioramas to narrate Napoleon Bonaparte's life, offering a visual, staged approach rather than a traditional collection of memorabilia.
Is the Musée de la Résistance corse in Zonza suitable for a quick visit?
Yes, it is a compact, single-focus museum and can comfortably be visited in under an hour, making it easy to combine with a stop in the Alta Rocca.