Corsica-Genoa's empire
78 images Created 11 Mar 2014
Corsica, a French island with Genoese flavour
The powerful Republic of Genoa, one of the so-called “Maritime Republics” (Repubbliche Marinare) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 and for many centuries ruled the island of Corsica, the most important among numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean. Over the course of the 11th and particularly the 12th centuries, Genoa became the dominant naval force in the Western Mediterranean and still today the vestiges of this time are numerous around many places of Corsica, today a France’s region. Genoa build the first cities of the island, powerful fortresses against the pirates and also to control the local population. Most of these valled old cities survived and are the nucleus of modern Corsican coastal towns still showing intact medieval architecture is a perfect example of traditional Genoese cities, missed in the homeland. Many religious traditions, hundred of towers scattered along the coast against the Barbaresque pirates and beautiful Genoese bridges are scattered along the coast and now are one of the symbols of the island. Even the Corsican language bears the marks of Genoese influente because Corsica remained under Genoese control for five centuries, until the Corsican Republic of 1755 and its purchase by France in 1764.
The powerful Republic of Genoa, one of the so-called “Maritime Republics” (Repubbliche Marinare) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 and for many centuries ruled the island of Corsica, the most important among numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean. Over the course of the 11th and particularly the 12th centuries, Genoa became the dominant naval force in the Western Mediterranean and still today the vestiges of this time are numerous around many places of Corsica, today a France’s region. Genoa build the first cities of the island, powerful fortresses against the pirates and also to control the local population. Most of these valled old cities survived and are the nucleus of modern Corsican coastal towns still showing intact medieval architecture is a perfect example of traditional Genoese cities, missed in the homeland. Many religious traditions, hundred of towers scattered along the coast against the Barbaresque pirates and beautiful Genoese bridges are scattered along the coast and now are one of the symbols of the island. Even the Corsican language bears the marks of Genoese influente because Corsica remained under Genoese control for five centuries, until the Corsican Republic of 1755 and its purchase by France in 1764.
