The earliest human presence in the Bastia area dates back to the Neolithic, with traces of a hare called Lagomys corsicanus and a few human fragments found in the Toga district. The city of Mantinon, mentioned by the Greek geographer Ptolemy, remains a mystery, with no remains or information having come down to us.
At the beginning of the 14th century, the area had only a modest Pisan chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas. At that time, Genoa and the Kingdom of Aragon were fighting over Corsica. Founded in 1383 by Leonello Lomellini, one of the governors sent by the Republic of Genoa, the town of Bastia was built in response to the Aragonese takeover of the northern part of the island. Bastia’s development accelerated when Genoa entrusted the management of Corsican affairs to a private Genoese bank, the Office of Saint George. In 1453, the island’s governor moved his residence from Biguglia to Bastia.
Despite an unfavourable geographical situation, particularly for navigation, the Office of Saint George encouraged Genoese families to settle near the fortress by offering tax exemptions. In 1605, Pope Clement VII granted the town the title of Civitas, and Genoa turned it into a garrison town in 1613. However, its development remained limited and its main purpose was military.
In the 17th century, Bastia developed modestly, marked by the integration of the native population into the original Ligurian settlement. For a long time Genoa imposed a ten-year wait for citizenship. By the end of the century, Bastia had between 8,000 and 10,000 inhabitants and was the economic centre of the island, although subject to the taxes imposed by Genoa.
The contemporary era begins with the Revolution and the Empire. Bastia kept its position as capital of the island after the French départements were organised. It was then the prefecture of the island, which formed a single département. However, this did not last. In 1792, Pascal Paoli, president of the General Council, decided to move the local executive to Corte.
The town experienced economic and demographic growth during the July Monarchy and the Second Empire. Work on the new port began in 1862, but it was not completed until almost half a century later. It was then that the port could serve the whole island. In 1869, Empress Eugénie de Montijo laid the foundation stone of the future hospital.
During the Second World War, Corsica was invaded by the Royal Italian Army in November 1942, and Bastia was occupied by nearly 80,000 soldiers. The resistance quickly organised itself, and the commando of the secret Pearl Harbour mission was landed in the bay of Topiti in December 1942. The town was bombed during the German retreat, a direct consequence of the operation to liberate the island that began as soon as the Armistice of Cassibile was announced. Bastia was liberated on 4 October 1943 by the Corsican rebels with the help of the Army of Africa, and Corsica then served as a base for the Allies.
After the war, Bastia gradually regained its economic and demographic prosperity. The town continues to evolve and adapt to the challenges of the 20th and 21st centuries. While preserving its rich historical heritage, Bastia remains an important economic and cultural centre for Corsica and the Mediterranean.