Calvi, Haute-Corse
Calvi is a French port city on the northwest coast of Corsica and capital of the landscape Balagne. With 5598 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) is the fifth largest municipality in Corsica.
- 3.1 monuments
- 3.2 Other Attractions
- 4.1 traffic
- 5.1 Sons and daughters of the town
Geography
Calvi is 95 km from Bastia and 24 km from L'Île- Rousse on the Gulf of Calvi.
The city consists of the lower town, in the town hall, the marketplace and the major yachting and ferry port are, and the upper city, which is dominated by the governor's palace and the fortress.
In Corsica, there are seven ports, which, of transport ships or ferries from the French (Marseille, Toulon, Nice) or Italian (Savona, Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Piombino ) coast, and from Sardinia (Santa Teresa di Gallura, Porto Torres Palau ) be approached. These are L' Ile- Rousse, Calvi, Propriano, Ajaccio, Bonifacio, Bastia and Porto -Vecchio.
History
Antiquity
About an early settlements is little known, but already Phoenicians, Greeks and Etruscans had settlements in the area of today Calvi. The Romans built in the area of the lower town a settlement called sine Caesiae ( possibly sinus Casalus ), from which the present name is derived Calvi.
Middle Ages
After Saracen occupied Pisa, the Corsica was awarded by the Pope in the 11th century the city. After disputes between Pisa and the Republic of Genoa over the ownership of the island was followed by a tumultuous time with alternating rule between Corsican nobles, Genoa and the Crown of Aragon. 1278 asked the inhabitants of Genoa Calvi to support against the local nobility. So Calvi fell into the sphere of influence of Genoa, which granted the fortress of Calvi (and also the Algajola ) goal for, Calvi an autonomous status and the Calvesern a number of privileges. The residents thanked Genoa it with fidelity, even during the struggle for independence. You can still see the access to the upper town the Latin motto Civitas Calvi semper fidelis ( " The town of Calvi is always faithful ").
Modern Times
In the 16th century resistant Calvi conquest attempts by the Corsican freedom fighter Sampiero Corso and his allies, the Turks and the French.
In the 18th century there was a brief period of Corsican independence under Pascal Paoli, which ended with the seizure of power in France. When trying Paolis, bringing with support from the Kingdom of Great Britain, Corsica again under his influence, Calvi was largely destroyed in 1793 by the British fleet.
After the loss of the French territories in North Africa in 1967, the 2e régiment étranger de parachutistes, stationed a paratrooper regiment of the Foreign Legion in Calvi.
Culture and sights
- Harbor promenade with lots of flair
- Genoese citadel (15th century)
Monuments
Monument of a Wasserträgerin
Monument to Christopher Columbus
Other destinations
- About six kilometer-long sandy beach, which adjoins the city, gently sloping water without large waves, with hotels and camping facilities
- Ship tours UNESCO-protected peninsula Scandola, about seven hours
- Trip to the Forest of Bonifato
- Hike to Carrozzu Hut and the Spasimata Suspension Bridge
- Circular walk through the deciduous and pine forests of the Bocca di l' Erbaghiolu and the Bocca Bonassa
- Climbing the local mountain of Calvi, the Capu di a Veta
- Walking around the peninsula of Revellata to Capu di a Veta
- Ride along the coast ( D81b ) about Argentella (old silver mine ) to Galeria (either car (1h ) or bicycle), back on the D81 at the airport along ( 1/2h )
Economy and infrastructure
Since the 1960s, the city is a famous tourist destination and most visited place on the island. More than half the population lives on tourism.
Traffic
- Airport Calvi ( Aéroport Sainte Catherine), 7 km south-east from Calvi station. Numerous charter flights from Germany and Austria, as well as cheap flights from TUIfly.
- Corsican railway ( narrow gauge railway ) to Ajaccio or Bastia via Ponte Leccia.
Personalities
Sons and daughters of the town
In the fortress of America explorer Christopher Columbus was supposedly born. Calvi belonged for centuries to the Republic of Genoa and even fought a long time against the independence of Corsica. From this time also a rumor that Christopher Columbus comes originally from Corsica - after all, claims to be the privilege of being the birthplace of the famous American explorer Calvi in addition to numerous other cities in Italy, Spain and Portugal.