Napoléon Avenue

You’re on Napoléon Avenue, the main street of the city center. Designed by Napoleon I, this street was at the heart of his great project to embellish his native city. As soon as it was inaugurated, it became a popular place to wander, to see and be seen. Inhabitants got into the habit of visiting Napoléon Avenue, traditionally from 5pm to 7pm, two hours during which visitors went back and forth. According to writer Paul Lucchini, author of several works on Ajaccio’s habits and customs, this tradition stems from the Italian wars. As news from the front was posted on the walls of the prefecture every evening, local residents flocked to the Palais Lantivy to follow the progress of the battle. By the end of the war, the habit had taken hold, and people flocked to Napoléon Avenue to create links with their compatriots. On your left, the pretty yellow-and-white church is Saint-Roch. It was built at the end of the 19th century, on the site of a fountain, to accommodate the town’s growing population. It was designed by local architect Barthélémy Maglioli, who had originally proposed a much larger project. It is neo-classical in style, with a semicircular portal flanked by 6 Doric columns. If you take a look inside, you’ll discover beautiful moldings and trompe-l’oeil paintings. The bell tower was only added in 1934.