Aléria stands on the eastern plain of Corsica (occasionally referred to as the Aléria plain), at the crossroads of the modern N200 and N198 roads. The commune extends over the surrounding agricultural lands, from the Teppe Rosse lake (to the west) to the Diana lagoon (to the north-east), and the Casabianda prison (to the south-east). It is crossed by the Tavignanu river which runs into the sea at this point. Inland from the coast, the river is overlooked by the village of U Cateraghju.


The archaeological site of Aléria comprises ruins of a pre-Roman necropolis, a Roman villa and the old Roman city, which has been fully excavated since 1965. The Roman city is the most important ancient town in Corsica, with a forum, porticoes, temple, nymphaeum, houses and shops, balneum (bathhouse) and mosaics, industrial buildings, roads etc. Numerous objects such as furniture, ceramics, coins, sculptures and bronzes are on display in the Musée Jérôme-Carcopino.

The Église Saint-Marcel was the first church to be built in Corsica, dating from the first millennium. It has been destroyed and rebuilt on numerous occasions using stone from the Roman town.

Ruins of the Tour de Diana, an old Genoese watchtower, can be seen between the coast and the Étang de Diana.

The Domaine de Casabianda (south-east) covers an area of 1,800 hectares. It is now occupied by a nature reserve and a model prison, which offers work experience conducted in conditions of semi-liberty.

The Fort de Matra stands on a rocky spur to the north of the Aléria plateau, overlooking the Tavignanu river and surrounding plain. Built around 1484 by the Genoese, it was used as a garrison post and a watchtower over the coast and lagoon area, as well as a Genoese weapons depot. For this reason, it was pillaged by insurgents during the Corsican revolt of 1729. On 12 March 1736, Théodore de Neuhoff, declared the King of Corsica, landed on the island and was given a solemn welcome here. Finally, the Matra used the tower as an operations base during their struggle against the government of Pascal Paoli.

Today the fortress houses the Musée archéologique d?Aléria. Listed as a historical monument in 1962, it was named after the Corsican scholar Jérôme Carcopino in 1969, when excavation work at the ancient site re-started. Exhibits in the museum cover a period of almost 8,000 years. The oldest items date back to the 5C BC and the most recent from the 5C AD. The prehistoric remains, Greek, Etruscan and Roman ceramics, jewellery, everyday items and weapons on display are all of major archaeological importance for ancient Corsica.