Yes, I have been to Corsica. I have mixed memories, mainly of being stuck in hospital in Ajaccio and wishing I could get to the museum featuring Napoleon. He was born in Corsica.
In his day he was the great enemy of England. Trafalgar Square's main feature is the statue of Nelson, on top of a huge column. Nearby, is Waterloo station, commemorating the battle of Waterloo. The Bakerloo line is so named because it connects Waterloo in the south with Baker Street on the North side of central London. (See statue of Sherlock Holmes outside the Baker Street station and Sherlock Holmes museum and Sherlock shop around the corner.)
On the south side of Hyde Park on the corner turning towards Kensington and Harrods is a historic house, number one, London. If you can, visit number one London - it is Wellington house which is conveniently central to visit on a trip to London. In the hall way, semi-circled by the staircase, is a huge statue of Napoleon. Wellington built it so that when he saw Napoleon, who was small, he (Wellington) would be totally unafraid since Napoleon would look tiny companied to the way he appeared in the statue.
However, I see Napoleon as a hero of history, certainly a great character. After a century passes, those of us who take an interest in history, can take the liberty of an independent view, a citizen of the world's view. I am sure there were admirers and haters of Napoleon in every country and on both sides of each conflict.
In fact, Napoleon like so many leaders, good and bad, was a great speaker. He gave a speech to the other side before one of his great battles, (probably Austerlitz) and the soldiers changed sides and joined him. Now, that's a great speech!
Napoleon's laws are still governing France. The one which most affects tourists is the requirement that if anybody ask you for a glass of (tap) water you must supply it (at no charge). This means you can go into a pub or restaurant in France and ask for a glass of water. (In the UK I often feel I need to buy something before asking for a glass of water or using a toilet.) Napoleon passed this law so that his soldiers could get a glass of water anywhere, just by asking, and without having to prove they were soldiers. (It would also help refugees fleeing from an enemy army. And it was a humanitarian gesture. Napoleon was good at offering help and protection to the ordinary folk.)
After visiting Corsica, I had an au pair girl from Corsica. Her main tourist visit in London, England, was to the memorial to a Corsican hero, Paoli Pasquale (which I would translate as Paul Pascal). He established Italian as the language of Corsica.
Here is my wish list for a visit to Corsica.
1 Ajaccio, the capital
2 Museum to Napoleon in Ajaccio: Maison Napoleon. You will also see streets named after Napoleon or Bonaparte, and a hotel named after him.
3 Musee Fesch, Ajaccio. Cardinal Fesch was Napoleon's uncle and the museum has paintings of Napoleon and family and religious paintings as well as one for two old masters and old and new paintings and local painters.
4 Ajaccio Cathedral, containing napoleon's ancestors burial place, where Napoleon was baptised, and a plaque records he said that he wished to be buried here.
4 Clifftop houses
5 Narrow hillside passageway featured in novel about two leading families which inspired an opera (by Merimee?)
http://www.visit-corsica.com/en/Be-inspired/Heritage-and-traditions/Culture/Museums-and-exhibitions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsica
http://www.easyjet.com/en/cheap-flights/france/corsica-ajaccio
TripAdvisor: Things to do. Includes Maison Napoleon - Napoleon's House. You can see and photograph the plaque outside. TripAdvisor has visitor photos of the interior showing a bed, grand long room with period tables and chairs, a map, an eagle.
Ajaccio tourist board
website of author and opera websites
London location of Corsican memorial: Westminster Abbey.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasquale_Paoli#/media/File:Pascal_Paoli01.jpg
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
