The Miollis citadel of Ajaccio, built by the Genoese in the 15th century and owned by the army until July 2019, when it was ceded to the city, opens its doors to the public during the summer period, for the first time since 1492 The curious will be able in particular to discover the first stone of the Corsican city there.
The last time it opened was in 1492. More than five hundred years later, the citadel of Ajaccio once again welcomes visitors to this military building built by the Genoese in the 15th century.
Holidaymakers and residents will therefore be able to discover it on the occasion of the bicentenary of Napoleon's death.
"It is a military building which has always been private to Ajaccians, visitors, Corsicans in general," assures Europe 1 Diane Lambruschini, director of the project.
"It is a great pride to succeed in opening it because it is a somewhat crazy challenge, in the heart of the city."
An "incomparable" atmosphere
"When you enter, you enter an atmosphere that is incomparable with the city center", continues the expert.
"The heart of the citadel is open so you can walk around it in a safe way. You can see all the buildings and signs have been created on each building to explain to people what these buildings are, what they were used for, what are the interior shots… We have little photos and pictures. "
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The citadel, parts of which are listed as Historic Monuments, houses the city's first stone.
But also the cell where committed suicide on March 19, 1943, the day after his arrest, a hero of the Resistance, Fred Scamaroni, in order not to speak to his Italian torturers, recalls the town hall.
"A very strong gesture"
While the place is the subject of preventive archaeological excavations and that it must be cleaned up before "becoming a new Ajaccian district eventually welcoming multiple activities", the town hall wanted to make "a playground for artists, traders, Ajacciens, tourists, students ".
"It is a very strong gesture to tell the Ajaccians that we are opening the citadel to them and that we will not close it again," said Diane Lambruschini.