Visiting the Bastia Museum
In the citadelle neighborhood of Bastia, in Corsica, you will find a museum housed within the Palais des gouverneurs (Governors' Palace). This site traces the history of the city and regularly hosts temporary exhibitions.
History
This municipal museum was established in the early 20th century. Local scholars led by chanoine Letteron (Canon Letteron) joined forces to launch the project.
The original museum opened in a room at the current theater, right next to the library. Following its inauguration in 1908, the collections expanded quickly, and by 1922, the museum was moved to the ancienne chapelle du couvent des missionnaires Lazaristes (former chapel of the Lazarist missionary convent).
Unfortunately, looting occurred during World War II, and only 584 pieces from the entire collection were ever recovered.
Following that period, the museum moved into its permanent home at the Palais des gouverneurs. The building, previously vacated by the military, was loaned to the municipality before the state officially ceded it to the city in 1990.
The building housing the current museum has been classified as a historical monument since 1977.
The Bastia Museum
The museum focuses on the history of the city and its connections to other towns on the island, as well as the wider Mediterranean basin. The permanent exhibits span 19 rooms, blending history, anthropology, and sociology. The visitor path follows 4 core themes.
These include "Birth and growth of a Corsican city", "A capital and a center of power", "A cultural hub", and "The major collections". It is a significant site for understanding the history of this Mediterranean island.
Located in the former Governors' Palace, this is a magnificent and very rich museum, with a splendid garden as a bonus. I learned a lot about the founding of Bastia and particularly enjoyed the Italian painting section. More unusual, the museum also presents a private collection of small objects from the First Empire (letters, crafts, fashion accessories) that is also worth a look. On the other hand, the signage is not always very clear.