The Bastia Music Festival in October offers something for everyone, with music genres spanning classical to jazz and blues. The popular Arte Mare festival (04 95 58 85 50, www.arte-mare.com, end Oct) celebrates the cultural life of the Mediterranean with book stalls, concerts, movie previews and art exhibitions. Giving Bastia just enough time to recuperate from the New Year’s celebrations, the annual Italian film festival (www.festivalcineitalien.com, end Jan) sees hordes of cineastes fly in from all over Europe. The art of comic strips and illustrations is the focus of Rencontres de la Bande Dessinée (end Mar-start Apr), with workshops and exhibitions. Good Friday sees the traditional Procession of the Black Christ through the citadel. For over 500 years, Bastia has celebrated the changing of the governors (held Sat in July nearest to the 10th) with medieval rituals, such as costume parades, drum-rolls and dances. Don’t miss it.

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