[ah-yaht-chaw] 
| a seaport in and the capital of Corsica: the birthplace of Napoleon I. 51,770. |
[kawr-si-kuh] | an island in the Mediterranean, SE of and forming a department of France. 220,000; 3367 sq. mi. (8720 sq. km). Capital: Ajaccio. |
| A·jac·cio (ä-yä'chō) A city of western Corsica, France, on the Gulf of Ajaccio, an inlet of the Mediterranean Sea. Ajaccio was the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. Population: 51,000. |
Island in the Mediterranean Sea; part of France, lying southeast of the French mainland, north of Sardinia, and west of Italy.
Note: Birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Ajaccio
town, capital of Corse-du-Sud departement, Corsica region, France, and Mediterranean port, on the west coast of the island of Corsica. Napoleon's birthplace, Maison Bonaparte, is now a museum, as is part of the town hall. The original settlement of Ajax was founded by the Romans 2 miles (3 km) north of the present site, to which the town was removed by the Genoese in 1492. Save for the period 1553-59, the town did not become French until 1768. From 1793 to 1811, Ajaccio was the capital of Liamone departement, and in 1976 it was made capital of Corse-du-Sud departement, one of the two into which the island was divided. Its economy rests largely on tourism, but there is some light industry, including the manufacture of aeronautical components. There is a small commerical port and yachting harbour as well as a science park. Ajaccio also has a long tradition as an administrative centre. It is the seat of a prefect and a bishopric. Regular air and ferry services connect Ajaccio to the French mainland. Pop. (1990) 58,949; (1999) 52,880
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