Cyrnos Palace

The beautiful, extravagant facade you see around the corner is that of the Cyrnos Palace. In 1870, a wealthy Scottish woman, Miss Campbell, travelled to the Mediterranean islands and fell in love with Ajaccio. She purchased the land in 1883, with the aim of building a private mansion. As early as the second half of the 18th century, the south of France saw the arrival of the English aristocracy, who discovered the benefits of the Provencal climate and sea bathing. They rushed to Nice, which even built them a long, beautiful promenade along the sea. Miss Campbell, for her part, set her eyes on the Corsican capital and even wrote a book praising the benefits of life in Ajaccio. The success of her book helped to raise the profile of the island of beauty, and many of her compatriots settled there for the winter. The palace was inaugurated a few years later, built entirely from materials shipped in from England. Keep going down the street, which you’ll notice is named in her honor, to admire the back of the façade. The palace’s balconies are indeed one of the most beautiful parts of the building. Now infused with nostalgia, the Cyrnos palace stands as a silent witness to the wealth of the English who came to the island on vacation.