Bonifacio

Bonifacio is situated at the southernmost tip of Corsica, in only 12km distance to the big neighbour island Sardinia. It is considered one of Corsica's most beautiful towns due to its breathtaking location on top of 60m high limestone cliffs. Apart from the spectacular location, there is the natural harbour at the end of a 1.5km long fjord and the compact old town with its mighty citadel which add to Bonifacio's charm.

Bonifacio's History

The town was founded in 828 by the Tuscan count Bonifacio di Lucca. However, archaeological finds imply that the area around Bonifacio used to be already inhabited in prehistoric times. The Genoese were interested in Bonifacio early on because of its favourable strategic location. In 1187, they finally succeeded in conquering the town with a trick and, except for a short break, it stayed under Genoese rule until 1768.

The Old Town

Bonifacio has a lot of very old buildings. Due to its location on top of a limestone plateau, the town is densely built and impressively compact with very narrow alleys. A special attraction is the Escalier du Roi d'Aragon, the King of Aragon's Stairway. The diagonal stairway with 187 steps was carved into the vertical cliff to provide access to the sea. Legend has it that it was built in 1420 during the unsuccessful siege by Spain but in fact, the stairway is clearly older than that. The steps are unusually high and often slippery so that flip flops or high heels are not recommended. Having arrived down by the sea you can carry on to a cave and let the spray splash you.

Boat Trips

To truly appreciate the striking location of the town, go on a boat trip. These are offered departing from the marina and allow you to have stunning views over the cliffs and Bonifacio's spectacular location. A tour to the caves is also impressive. However, the aquarium is less worthwhile visiting.