Calvi, Haute-Corse

French commune
nomcommune=Calvi
native_name= Calvi
common_name= Calvi


image_flag_size = 130px
image_coat_of_arms = Blason ville fr Calvi (Haute-Corse).svg
image_coat_of_arms_size = 85px
flag_

Coat_of_arms_

city_motto= Calvi Semper Fidelis


caption=The city, view from the citadel
région=Corse
département=Haute-Corse
arrondissement=Calvi
canton=Calvi
insee=2B050
cp=20260
maire=Ange Santini
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=Calvi Balagne
longitude=8.75694444444
latitude=42.5686111111
alt moy=81 m
alt mini=0 m
alt maxi=700 m
hectares=3,120
km²=31.20
sans=5,177
date-sans=1999
dens=165.9
date-dens=1999

Calvi is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica. it is the chief city of the Canton of Calvi, which contains besides itself one other commune, Lumio. Calvi is also the capital of the Arrondissement of Calvi, which contains, beside the Canton of Calvi, three other cantons: L'Île-Rousse, Belgodère and Calenzana. [cite web|title=France, le trésor des régions: Département: Haute-Corse|url=http://tresordesregions.mgm.fr/Mdir.php?p=cant.php&region=94&cl=|format=html|accessdate=2008-05-06 fr icon.]

There is a legend that Christopher Columbus was from Calvi, which at the time was part of the Genoese empire. Because the often subversive elements of the island gave its inhabitants a bad reputation, he would have masked his exact heritage.

The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2 REP) of the French Foreign Legion is based in Calvi, housed in its citadel.

Geography

Calvi is located on the northwest coast of the island of Corsica, 95 km from Bastia and 24 km from L'Île-Rousse. It is the fifth-largest commune in Corsica; however, the arrondissement is the smallest.

Administration

Calvi is a sub-prefecture of the Haute-Corse department.

History

The motto, "Calvi semper fidelis," ("Calvi Always Faithful") referred originally to its loyaly to the Republic of Genoa.

Economy

The economy of Calvi is essentially based on summer tourism, which started in 1950 due to the pioneering efforts of Vladimir Raitz. The Ste-Catherine International Airport of Calvi and the Xavier Colonna Port ease the access for a number of tourists.

Notes

ee also

External links

* [http://www.villedecalvi.fr/ Official website] fr icon
* [http://wikitravel.org/en/Calvi Wikitravel]
* [http://www.calvi-location.fr A presentation of Calvi and its hotels]
* [http://www.fleurdecorse.com/Village_Calvi.html photos from Fleur de Corse]

Panorama