The project is not new. It was mentioned in January 2020, in our columns, by Lisandru de Zerbi, then deputy mayor of Bastia in charge of the Corsican language. It came back into the light, more than four years later, at the municipal council meeting this Thursday, December 19, 2024. The elected officials adopted a financing plan relating to the project management assistance mission for the creation of the Osteria spartuta.
An ambitious dossier presented as “unique” by the nationalist majority, modeled on the hotel model of the Italian “Albergo Diffuso”. The concept offers an immersive tourist experience while respecting local traditions and heritage. Concretely, the system will offer an accommodation space located in the heart of the old center, within the Palace of the Twelve Nobles.
“We are not going to become hoteliers but simply make rooms available as part of a public service delegation,” says Mattea Lacave, deputy mayor responsible for culture and the Corsican language.
Restoring and reclassifying part of the Palace of the Nobles Twelve
The Palace of the Nobles Twelve, municipal property, incorporates important heritage spaces, while housing municipal services and associations. “The objective is to restore and requalify part of the palace to make it a distinctive tourist accommodation, retaining the architectural and cultural elements that reinforce its authenticity, underlines Mattea Lacave. Osteria spartuta will offer immersive hospitality where the tourist becomes an actor in cultural sharing thanks to interactive activities (gastronomy, crafts, cultural visits, etc.) which are part of a network of local actors.”
The Corsican language will be an integral part of the project. À Casa di e Lingue and the Praticalingua association will collaborate to offer language courses, guided tours and immersive activities. A digital application will be available, “in addition to its primary functions of dictionary, conjugator and toponymic census, it will provide for the materialization of itineraries and thematic tours in the city, in order to ensure a true immersion stay.”
It is difficult at the moment to have a concrete idea of the cost of the project or its schedule. “The overall amount will be assessed by project management assistance,” says Mattea Lacave in response to a question from Livia Graziani-Sanciu, elected from the opposition group “Unione per Bastia”.
On the other hand, the majority wishes to make one “model which promotes slow and sustainable tourism, favoring extended stays and integration into Bastia life, thus contributing directly to the local economy.”
