Calvi was founded in the 13th century.[1] Its motto, "Calvi semper fidelis" ("Calvi Always Faithful"), referred originally to its loyalty to the Republic of Genoa, which instated there a closed city centre (préside) in 1278, and built a new castle in 1491 to face new artillery technologies.[2] The motto originates from 1553 when Calvi repulsed two attacks by the French and Turks,[1] aided by Corsican exiles.

During the war with Revolutionary France, British forces under Admiral Nelson and Lieutenant-General Charles Stuart captured the city in the Siege of Calvi in 1794. It was during the bombardment of Calvi that Nelson sustained the injury that cost him his eye. The town was retaken by Corsicans the following year.[1]

^ a b c   One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Calvi". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 70–71. ^ Catherine Herrgott (2013-12-15). "Les citadelles urbaines en Corse : patrimonialisation d'un territoire particulier". Études caribéennes (in French) (26). doi:10.4000/etudescaribeennes.6714. Retrieved 2017-05-16.