Encompassing craggy peaks, blissful beaches, and coastal towns, Corsica is the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean. Its geographical diversity is matched only by its cultural richness, with the island offering something completely different from mainland France.
Ruled by the Republic of Genoa for several centuries, Corsica has been heavily influenced by Italy and remains patriotic in maintaining its unique cultural traditions. Megalithic monuments such as dolmens and menhirs indicate that Corsica has been inhabited since at least the Middle Stone Age and had a permanent human presence since the 6th millennium BC.
Corsica was later occupied by the Carthaginians, the ancient Greeks who founded the town of Alalia , and the Etruscans before being incorporated into the Roman Republic in the 3rd century BC. During this time, the island produced sheep, honey, and slaves who were notorious for their rebellious nature. But in fact, it is part of France and has been since the 18th century. It later became part of the Kingdom of the Lombards and was under the influence of the Republic of Pisa from the 11th century.
This was part of a repayment of debts that the Republic of Genoa had accumulated after asking France for military help in quashing a Corsican uprising. While French is the most widely spoken language on the island, around , people still speak the native language of Corsican. It has its roots in the Latin language brought by the Roman Empire and has been influenced by the major powers who have played a role since - the Papal States, the Republic of Pisa, and the Republic of Genoa.
Corsican is related to the Tuscan dialect spoken on the Italian mainland and has been influenced by the French language, although it sounds more similar to Italian. Today, Corsican is taught in some schools, although French remains the most widely spoken language on the island. While you probably think of Coca-Cola as a distinctly American creation, it was actually a Corsican chemist who first invented the drink.
