The city of Bonifacio in France. Open left menu Bonifacio Bonifacio from Sardinia for 1 day

September 17th, 2010 , 05:09 pm

That's all, my friends. Here is my last Corsican post. For dessert, I left a one-day excursion to the most visited city of Corsica - Bonifacio (in French transcription Bonifacio).
Writer Anatole France once remarked: “Sometimes one day spent in other places gives more than ten years of life at home.” For some reason it seems to me that he was talking about Bonifacio! The city is magnificent!

So, for our visit to the southernmost city of France, we chose the company Nave Va, which was already familiar to us. The cost of the excursion for one adult is 58 euros, for a child – 40. We depart from Ajaccio at 8 am and return at 18.30. You are given 4 hours to walk around Bonifacio: not much, of course, but quite enough for a first acquaintance.

There was no storm this time. One of the team members made us happy with this news as soon as we stepped on board the boat. It's nice that you found out and showed some concern. In general, we did not experience any discomfort during the trip.

We swam for some time accompanied by dolphins...

Unfortunately, we met them only once...

It takes about three hours to sail to the final destination of our journey, but on the left side there are beautiful landscapes...

so time flies completely unnoticed... Just don’t forget to sit correctly... on the left

In general, the coast from Ajaccio to Bonifacio is one of the most beautiful in Corsica!

Absolutely deserted beaches...

However, there are still traces of civilization... Do you see the ruins? Apparently this is one of the watchtowers.

The towers are located along the entire Corsican coast. A total of 65 of them have survived. When an enemy ship appeared in the distance, the inhabitants of the island were warned about it by a smoke signal...

People meet too... This lady noticed my camera and expressed dissatisfaction. Literally in a second she will create a composition called “fak yu” from her graceful fingers. Fi, madam...

And this aunt, it seems, was sunbathing naked literally a minute before our arrival... And now she chastely covered her nakedness... The one who was lying next to him, it seems, decided to hide...

Meanwhile, chalk (gentlemen geologists, am I speaking correctly?) rocks appeared - a sure sign that the final goal is already close...

By the way, Napoleon's Grotto is clearly visible, but more on that later...

The city is getting closer and closer...

Here he is, handsome!

Proud and unapproachable!

One of the myths about Odysseus mentions a city on a white rock that can withstand any siege.

Moreover! There is a legend according to which Odysseus even visited Bonifacio. I wonder if the city has changed much? I read somewhere that this is what he looked like!

Impressive, isn't it? The houses are located at an altitude of more than 60 meters above sea level...

The history of Bonifacio begins from the moment when a certain marquis from Tuscany gave this locality his name. Later, the Genoese appreciated Bonifacio’s advantageous location from a military point of view and captured the city in 1187.

This is what the texture of the coastal rocks looks like...

On the way to the port, we sail past the famous Saint-Antoine grotto (or Napoleon's grotto, since from the outside it very much resembles the emperor's famous cocked hat)

And here is the port...

In general, the city is divided into two parts: the lower town of Marina and the Upper (Old) town, the one that is located on the rocks.

This is a view of the Old Town from the Marina...

How could there be no fortifications... This is a fortified city!

You can get to the upper city either on a special small tourist train (included in the price of the excursion), or on your own along the Monte Rastello pedestrian road (pictured)…

It's her...

The road ends at a certain balustrade, from which amazing views open up...

Including one of Bonifacio’s business cards – a piece of limestone rock called “Grain of Sand”...

The views are really good...

From the balustrade you can see neighboring Sardinia (12 km away), but I won’t show photographic evidence...
Why do we need Sardinia if we are in Corsica!

There are no beaches in the city itself, but, as you can see, this doesn’t bother some people...

The purest sea water is perhaps one of the many calling cards of Corsica!

This is the Saint-Roch Chapel near the Porte de Gennes fortress...

Until the 19th century, the gates of the Porte de Gennes fortress were the only entrance to the Old Town... In fact, there is also a drawbridge there...
Guests are greeted by a local musician…

Welcome to medieval Bonifacio!

Parallel streets are sometimes connected by corridors like this...

On the small “Street of Two Emperors” in house No. 31 from January to March 1793 Napoleon lived (in those days, of course, not yet an emperor, but an ordinary lieutenant)…

And Charles V stayed in house number 22 in 1541...

We continue to wander through the narrow streets of the city...

It is quite difficult to photograph any specific building in its entirety. Very cramped...

But the locals still manage to use scooters...

In general, Bonifacio has 2,700 inhabitants, most of whom are descendants of Italians who settled here after the city was captured by the Genoese. It was a long time ago, so few people here speak the Ligurian dialect...

Bonifacio is the most visited city in Corsica, so they try to sell every tourist here an absolutely unnecessary souvenir “as a keepsake”...

Including a kind of Corsican “birdhouse” so that all your guests ask: “Where did you bring this beauty from?” "Ah! It seems from Bonifacio!"

The Church of Sainte-Marie-Majeur is sandwiched on all sides by houses, and several tables of one of the restaurants stand so close to the side door of the temple that it is difficult for visitors to the tavern to figure out why they came here: to pray or to eat.

By the way, I meant this restaurant...

There are some pretty funny signs... It's not hard to imagine what this pig will turn into...

A cafe with a simple name “Fa”…

Attributes of a disco... Apparently, for beauty...

From the Church of Sainte-Marie-Majeur, special flying buttresses are thrown to the neighboring buildings. They distribute the load from the vaults of the cathedral, and in addition, rainwater flowed through specially reinforced gutters into a special tank located under the loggia of the church... The volume of the tank is 600 m3. This was a strategic supply of water in case of a siege.

Between ordinary buildings there are also struts and the same cunning rainwater collection system. There were reservoirs for it in every house.

The houses have very steep stairs. By the way, before there were no steps at all: you could only climb into your home using a rope ladder and, in case of danger, immediately pull it up with you. This is not a metal door for you! Everything is much more reliable! This is truly a real fortified city!

And this is another “trick” of Bonifacio – “the staircase of the King of Aragon”. In general, the city was besieged many times. A particularly difficult siege was established in 1420 by the troops of the Aragonese king Alfonso. So, the legend says that his soldiers, in order to penetrate the city, cut a staircase of 187 steps in the rock in one night! You can't climb inside a huge wooden horse! Right? This is more difficult work!

If you are not prone to dizziness from heights, then do not deny yourself the pleasure of visiting this “attraction”. The steps are quite steep, you need to go down very carefully. There are handrails. The stairs lead to a path laid right in the rocks hanging overhead...

Bonifacio is a very colorful city in the south of Corsica. It is built right into steep cliffs of white limestone at an altitude of 60 m, so the entire city is snow-white. Bonifacio consists of two parts: the port quarter, where the marina for ships and yachts is located, and the Upper Town (aka Old Town), in which all the attractions are concentrated. The most beautiful of them are the ancient fortress, the sailors' cemetery, the Aragonese staircase of 187 steps, which leads directly to the sea, and the Gothic Cathedral of St. Dominic of the 13th century.

How to get there

The local Figari airport is located 21 km north of the city; from July to August there are buses from it to the city center (7-8 EUR). All year round, buses run to Ajaccio (4 hours, 19.5 EUR) and Bastia (with transfers).

Italian Sardinia is only 12 km from here by sea across the strait.

Search for flights to Ajaccio (closest airport to Bonifacio)

City `s history

The name of the city was given by Viscount Boniface II of Tuscany, not at all French, but rather Mediterranean. He founded it in 828 on the site of an ancient port settlement founded by the Romans and Greeks in 300 BC. e. Bonifacio did not belong to the French for long. In 1187, the Genoese, seduced by the advantageous location of the port city, captured the fortress and created their own colony. The story of the siege of the city was repeated more than once.

It was not easy for the inhabitants of Bonifacio in 1420, when King Alfonso of Aragon ordered his soldiers to cut a staircase into the rock. They managed to complete the task overnight - a staircase of 187 steps was supposed to lead the king to victory.

But the besieged Genoese resisted the onslaught of Alfonso of Aragon, and he did not get the city.

Weather in Bonifacio

In autumn and spring it is quite cool here and the wind blows, but in the summer it becomes so hot that by noon there is no energy left for any sightseeing.

Bonifacio Hotels

The city is dominated by 3-5* hotels. The most popular hotels are located in the lower part of the city, closer to the embankment and closer to the beaches. For those who prefer to live surrounded by ancient buildings, it is better to rent a room in a hotel in the Upper Town.

You can also rent a villa in Bonifacio.

Beaches

The city beaches provide excellent conditions for sunbathing. Beach and water sports can also be enjoyed here.

Since a strong sea current has always formed around the city, tourists prefer beaches ten kilometers from the city: for example, in Rondinara Bay, Santa Manza Bay, or in the small bays of Catalonga, Sperone and Pianterella, located east of Bonifacio. Another resort area is the Lavezzi Islands, where there is a marine national park and an underwater center. You can’t pick flowers, catch animals or ride a bike here, but the beauty is crazy, which you can enjoy for hours.

Entertainment and attractions in Bonifacio

The town, surrounded by white limestone walls, is divided into two parts: the upper town and the lower (Marina), centered around the port. Quite formidable on the outside, bordered by rocks, inside Bonifacio hides touching carved stone houses, narrow cozy streets, ancient buildings of churches and cathedrals, fragrant gardens and parks. The highest point of the city is the Sait-Roch observation deck, from where you can see the rock - “Green of Sand” (Grein de sable). In the old town, along the “street of two emperors” Rue des deux Empereurs, tourists make their leisurely promenade, eager to see the city citadel of Bonifacio, crowned with the Aragonese steps descending to the water - a magnificent historical place, overgrown with legends.

The Grène des Sables, a limestone cliff, a man-made creation - all this is the Staircase of the King of Aragon, consisting of 187 steps, the path to the source of drinking water in the cave located at the bottom of the stairs.

There is also the Marin cemetery and, for dessert, the Saint-François monastery. At a distance of four kilometers from Bonifacio, hidden on the ledges of a granite rock, is an amazing place, permeated with silence - L’Hermitage de la Trinite (Desert of the Holy Trinity). Being here, anyone will find peace, even if only for a while, overshadowed by the beauty of the cross carved on the surface of the rock. Let's tell you in more detail about the 6 most colorful attractions of the resort.

Views of Bonifacio

Promenade Comparetti

The Comparetti embankment is one of the most beautiful places in the city. The local harbor is dotted with hundreds of yachts and boats at any time of the year. The harbor is not only the center of the city's marine life, from where ships depart every day and where new ones land every day. There is also a vibrant entertainment life here. At dusk, the embankment is illuminated by many lights. Like moths flying to a flame, it attracts people who want to have fun and relax.

Citadel

If the embankment is the lower part of the city, called the Marina, then the city citadel with the sailors' cemetery and the Aragonese steps is its upper part, located at an altitude of 60 m. When entering the citadel, you will probably see a skeleton. Don't be alarmed, these are not real bones, but only a copy of them. The real "Dame Bonifacio" (this is the name of the skeleton of a 35-year-old woman found here during excavations) is kept in the Alta Rocca Museum.

Aquarium

In the port of Marina, in a natural cave, the French set up a real aquarium. Here you can see the beauty of the underwater world of the Bonifacio Strait - magnificent corals, including black ones, as well as jellyfish, stingrays, small fish, colorful damselfish fish and many, many other living creatures.

7 things to do in Bonifacio

Book a boat trip for an hour or for the whole day. During your walk, you can explore grottoes, of which Corsica is full, admire the picturesque underwater world and get a lot of positive emotions.
Admire the sunset from the sailors' cemetery, strewn with white crosses. From here you have a beautiful view of the sea and the city. Truly, this is the best place to watch the sun set. Don't be afraid, it's not creepy at all - the mosaics and white chapels create a peaceful environment.
Visit the Cascades d'Evisa waterfalls.
Touch the stone walls of the magnificent citadel in the town of Cort.
Admire the high-mountain Golden Lake and swim in the hot springs in Caldana.
Try sweet chestnut soup in one of the cafes on the embankment.
And, of course, don’t forget to climb the Aragonese Steps. When else will you be honored to climb such ancient steps, to the creation of which people who lived more than 5 centuries ago had a hand in?

Bastion Etandar

The Comparetti embankment and the Chapelle Saint-Roch church, which occupies the Monte Roche hill, give its guests an amazing view. By the way, this road used to lead to the city through the Porte des Genets drawbridge. The Etandar Bastion is today the only fragment remaining of the fortifications, which were destroyed during the siege of 1554, when the French, at the cost of incredible efforts, recaptured the fortress from the Genoese. Pay attention to the house with a marble shield located nearby. Napoleon Bonaparte himself lived there in 1793.

Cathedral of Saint Dominic

The historical district of Bosco is interesting, where the rare Corsican Gothic Cathedral of Saint Domenique is located. This church has an amazing octagonal shape with a bell tower crowned with battlements. The architecture of this building amazingly harmoniously intertwines Gothic elements, Corsican aesthetics and Romanesque style.

Church of Sainte-Marie-Mageur

The Church of Sainte-Marie-Mager is located in the central part of the city and will amaze you with its whiteness. In all of Bonifacio, it is considered the most expensive church, so don’t bother going into it.

The island of Corsica, or rather its most popular town called Bonifacio. This city is considered the most photogenic and most colorful city on the island, and this is not at all surprising. The sights located here are nothing short of admirable.

Bonifacio is a city and at the same time a commune located in the south of the island of Corsica. The city is located on a long, narrow peninsula at the very edge of Corsica, separated from the island of Sardinia by the Strait of Bonifacio. The population of the town is just under three thousand people.

Area: 138 km²;
Time zone: UTC+1, summer UTC+2;
Population: 2,700.

How to get there

Getting to the city is not difficult. The nearest airport is located just 21 kilometers north of the center. You can also get there by bus from Ajaccio and Bastia.

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A little bit of history

The first settlements in this area date back to prehistoric times, as evidenced by an ancient residential cave near the village of Capello and chamber tombs to the north of the city, near Figari. The first site dates back to approximately 6500 BC, and the second site dates back to the Megalithic culture of the 3rd–2nd millennium BC. The history of the city itself begins in 828, when the fortress founded on this site was named in honor of Boniface II of Tuscany.

Attractions

Bonifacio is divided into two parts: the Marina is a port quarter, which is intended for the anchorage of warships, fishing boats and pleasure yachts, and the Upper Town is a citadel located on 60-meter steep cliffs. And, of course, the most interesting sights are located in the old part of the city.

Here you will find a citadel with a very beautiful sailors' cemetery and the Aragonese steps that go straight down to the sea. According to legend, all 187 steps of this staircase were carved in one night during the siege of the city by the Spanish king. Nearby is the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Dominic, dating from the 13th century, and the Church of Sainte-Marie-Mageur, which dates from the 14th century. Not far from the port, in a natural cave there is an aquarium where you can admire the flora and fauna of the Bonifacio Strait.

Camparetti embankment, all built up with hotels, shops and restaurants. Opposite the embankment on a hill rises the Chapelle Sainte-Roch church, which dates back to the 16th century, and is reached by the Porte des Genets drawbridge, which was once the only entrance to the city. Stroll through the city's narrow streets and enjoy the covered galleries and double arched windows. The Torrione watchtower, which dates back to 1195 and is 35 meters high, behind which lies the historic quarter of Bosco.

Bonifacio cannot boast of having places for swimming. It does not have a convenient entrance to the sea, and its strait is known for strong currents and constant winds. Therefore, if you want to enjoy the warm sea and clean beaches, then you should go to the beaches of the Bay of Santa Manza and the bay of Rondinara, which is 9 kilometers north of the city, or to the small bays of Catalonga, Pianterella and Sperone, which are 3 – 7 kilometers east of the city .

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The resort town of Bonifacio occupies a magnificent secluded location at the southernmost tip of Corsica on a narrow peninsula of dazzling white limestone.

The upper town (haute ville), reproduced in the photographs, a labyrinth of narrow streets flanked by two tall Genoese houses, naturally grows out of steep cliffs in which winds and waves have carved out voids and furrows.

On the northern side, between the peninsula and the mainland, lies a deep chasm, forming an ideal natural harbor that has served as shelter for various ships for centuries. Today it houses a luxurious marina, attracting yachts from all over the Mediterranean.

Separated from the rest of the island by a strip of dense maquis, Bonifacio differs in temperament, being decidedly more Italian in spirit than French. The city has retained Renaissance features that can only be found here, and its inhabitants speak a Ligurian dialect, a legacy of the times when Bonifacio was a virtually independent Genoese colony.

Such a place has its inevitable drawbacks: exorbitant prices, colossal crowds in August and a commercial cynicism that is not typical of Corsica as a whole. However, the Old Town is one of the most spectacular sights in the entire Mediterranean.

This spectacle easily overshadows all the tourist tackiness surrounding it and fully justifies at least a one-day trip. If you want to visit during high season, try to arrive early, before the bus tours arrive around 10am.

Arrival, city information and accommodation in Bonifacio

Figari Airport, 17 kilometers north of Bonifacio, has flights to mainland France. There are also several charter flights from the UK. Out of season there is no bus service between the airport and the city (in season buses run by Transports Rossi), so you will have to take a taxi, which will cost about 45-50 €.

Buses from other parts of Corsica arrive at the bus depot at the pier, where most of the buses are located. hotels. The tourist office (July-September: daily 9.00-20.00; October-June: Monday-Friday 9.00-12.30 and 14.00-17.15) is located above, in Fort San Nicro in the upper town (haute ville), at the lower end of the street F. Scamaroni (rue F. Scamaroni).

It can give you information about hotel availability. Car rentals are provided by Avis at quai Banda del Ferro, Citer at quai Noel-Beretti and Hertz at quai Banda del Ferro. They all have branches at the airport.

If you need to exchange currency, be aware that the only ATM in Bonifacio at the Societe Generale bank Promenade Comparetti(quai J. Comparetti) Money is often short, so try to take advantage of it early, otherwise you may find yourself at the mercy of the fraudulent exchange offices scattered throughout the city. You can use the Internet at Bomiboom.com (quai Comparetti, 0.15 € per minute).

Staying in the city can be difficult, as hotel rooms usually fill up quickly during the season, so you need to book a room in the center in advance. Better yet, get rid of worries and save a lot of money by choosing another place to stay and come to Bonifacio for the day, because the prices in the local hotels are the highest in Corsica. The same applies to large campsites along the road. Porto-Vecchio, which may also be overcrowded.

Bonifacio Hotels

1). Hotel La Caravelle– An old hotel in an excellent location on the waterfront, the standard rooms of which do not justify their cost. Hotel address: 35 quai J. Camparetti;

2). Hotel Center Nautique– A chic but not prim hotel on the beach, decorated with pleasant wood and decorated with nautical charts. All rooms are two-story, with spiral staircases between floors, and tastefully furnished. The best high class hotel in Bonifacio. Hotel location: city pier;

3). Hotel Des Etrangers– Simple rooms (more expensive ones have TVs and air conditioning) face the main road. The hotel is located directly above the port. Nothing special, but very good for Bonifacio. Opening hours: April-October. Hotel address: 4 av Sylvere-Bohn;

4). Hotel Le Roi d'Aragon– Newly renovated 3 star hotel. Off-season discounts are above average. Some rooms are small, but the more expensive ones have sun terraces connecting them. The rooms have beautiful views across the port. Hotel address: 13 quai J. Comparetti;

5). Hotel Santa Teresa– Large 3-star hotel above the cliff and Maren cemetery. The hotel is notable for its amazing views across the strait to Sardinia. Not all rooms face the sea, so when booking, ask for “vue mer avec balcon”. Hotel address: Quartier Saint-Francois.

Campings Bonifacio

1). Camping L'Araguina– The closest to the city, but inhospitable and terribly cramped. There are not enough washing facilities and toilets. It's best to avoid it unless absolutely necessary. Opening hours: April-September. Camping address: Av Sylvere-Bohn;

2). Camping Campo di Liccia“It’s very big and shady, so there’s sure to be room there.” Opening hours: April-October. Camping location: 3 kilometers north, towards Porto-Vecchio;

3). Camping Pian del Fosse– Large 3-star campsite, recently refurbished. In June and September it is very quiet and calm. Well located in relation to the beaches. Opening hours: April-mid-October. Camping location: 4 kilometers from the city of Santa Manza.

Sights of Bonifacio

The nearby Palais de Garde, with its covered arcades and double-arched windows separated by unusually low columns, is one of the most beautiful in Bonifacio. The oldest houses here initially did not have doors on the ground floor. Residents climbed to the second floor using ladders and pulled them behind them so as not to be subjected to unexpected attacks. The first floor served as a barn and granary.

On the other side of the Rue Palais de Garde stands the church of Ste-Marie-Majeure, originally Romanesque but rebuilt in the 18th century, although its richly stuccoed bell tower dates from the 14th century. Its facade is hidden by a loggia in which Genoese officials held court during the Republic.

The main treasure of the church is the remains of the True Cross, rescued during a shipwreck in the Bonifacio Strait. For centuries, the inhabitants of Bonifacio carried them to the edge of the cliff during storms and prayed for the calm of the sea. The relic is kept in the sacristy of the church along with an ivory barrel containing the relics of St. Boniface. You can look at these shrines only if you find someone who will open the sacristy for you.

To the south, Rue Doria leads towards the Bosco district, and at its end, Rue des Pachas, which branches off to the left and downwards, stretches to the 35-meter Torrione watchtower, built in 1195 on the site of the castle of the Counts of Bonifacio.

From there, the King of Aragon's Staircase (Escalier du Roi d'Aragon) leads down the cliff, a total of 187 steps (June-September: daily 11.00-17.30; 2 €), according to legend, built in one night by the Aragonese who tried to capture the city in 1420 . In fact, it already existed by that time, and people used it to get water from the well.

Bosco area

To the west of the tower lies the Bosco district, named after the forest that grew here in the 10th century. At that time there lived a community of hermits, but today this limestone plateau is treeless and deserted. Signs of life are visible only in the military training camp, where young Corsicans work hard to perform public service. The border of this area is marked by the Church of St. Dominic (St-Dominique), a rare example of Corsican Gothic, built in 1270, most likely by the Templars, and only later passed on to the Dominicans.

Behind the church begins Mill Street (rue Moulins), which leads to three mills built in 1283. Two of them were destroyed, and the third was restored. Behind the mill you will see a monument to the 750 shipwreck victims who died in 1855 when the military transport Semillante, en route to Crimea, sank in a strait famous for its strong winds, where many ships were lost.

The highest part of the plateau is occupied by the Marin cemetery (Cimetiere Marin), whose white crosses stand directly above the blue depths of the sea. Open until sunset, the cemetery is a fascinating place to explore. Here you can see magnificent mausoleums with a wide variety of architectural decorations: facades with stucco decoration, Gothic arches and classical columns.

Next to the cemetery is a Franciscan monastery (Couvent Francois), said to commemorate St. Francis seeking refuge in a cave nearby. The story goes that the monastery is a sign of the city’s apology to the saint, on whom a local girl almost poured a bucket of slop. The Esplanade St-Francois, which runs around the cemetery and monastery to the south, offers beautiful views across the strait to Sardinia.

Where to eat and drink, nightlife in Bonifacio

There are plenty of places to eat in Bonifacio, but it's best to avoid the tacky restaurants around the marina - most of them don't justify their high prices. Restaurants in the upper city they are less pretentious.

Grab a bite to eat at Boulangerie-Patisserie Faby (4 rue St-Jean-Baptiste in the upper town), a small bakery that serves local treats such as pain des morts (sweet buns with chestnuts and raisins), fugazzi (biscuits flavored with vodka, lemon and anise) and migliacis (breads with fresh sheep's cheese), as well as the usual range, baked in the traditional local way - on a stone.

Bars and the cafes on the Comparetti promenade (quai Comparetti) are the center of the city's social life and the modest nightlife that dares to exist here on the surrounding terraces. The only one that existed here night club a few years ago it was blown up by nationalists, so for real entertainment you need to go to Porto-Vecchio.

Bonifacio Restaurants

1). Restaurant L'Archivolto– This is one of the most dignified places in the upper city, whose candlelit interior is filled with antiques and various old things. The cuisine here is not so varied, and the prices correspond better to the level of dishes than in other establishments. But the restaurant fills up quickly, so advance reservations are recommended. Lunch menu is about 15 €, in the evening only a la carte, about 28-30 € for three courses. Opening hours: Easter-October. Restaurant address: Rue de l'Archivolto;

2). Restaurant Cantina Doria– Corsican dishes at practical prices. The popular €15 three-course set, which includes the local's signature aubergines a la bonifacienne, is incomparably good by upper-city standards, but if you're tempted by the excellent wine selection, the selection here is superb, your bill could add up considerably . Restaurant address: 27 rue Doria;

3). Restaurant Center Nautique– The best place for breakfast in Bonifacio: coffee, hot croissants, baguettes and freshly squeezed orange juice on the table plus a view of the bastion. Well worth spending 10 euros, but to get the best table you should arrive early. Restaurant location: In the hotel of the same name;

4). Pizzeria De la Poste– Inexpensive and cheerful pizzeria serving oven-baked lasagna, spaghetti with brocciu cheese, stuffed mussels and excellent pizza (10 euros). Pizzeria address: 6 rue Fred-Scamaroni;

5). Restaurant Les Quatres Vents– A small lively restaurant, popular with both locals and tourists. The set of dishes for 17 euros is exceptionally good. To find an outdoor table, you need to arrive early. Restaurant location: on the embankment near the ferry pier;

6). Restaurant Stella d'Oro(Chez Jules) – A la carte restaurant with stone walls and wooden beams. Top-notch Corsican dishes include the signature merizzane (stuffed eggplant). The famous spaghetti with lobster sauce and ravioli with brocciu cheese are also available. Set of dishes from 22 euros. Restaurant address: 23 rue Doria - near the Church of John the Baptist (St-Jean-Baptiste).

Neighborhood of Bonifacio

The cliffs at the top of the Rastello stairs (accessed by a path to the left from the top steps) offer impressive views of the citadel, but they are nothing compared to the views from the sea. Throughout the day, a flotilla of excursion boats takes visitors to the best points to explore the chain of caves and other attractions accessible only from the sea.

There is also a route visiting the group of small Lavezzi islands (iles Lavezzi) - where a military transport (Semillant) crashed in 1855 - which is now declared a nature reserve. All excursion boats, which have no free seats, make trips under continuous commentary from loudspeakers. However, it makes sense to just go around the mouth of the bay and look at the Old Town, perched on the famous chalk cliffs. A trip through the caves costs 10-12 €, and a longer one excursion on Lavezzi – 20-25 €.

The beaches on this part of the coast are generally smaller and less attractive than most of the beaches in the south of Corsica, although those fringing the Gulf of Santa Manza (Golfe de Santa Manza) to the north are among the most picturesque. At the southernmost tip of Corsica, reached by a narrow but accessible road, there are three small coves with the most popular of beaches, all easily accessible from the city.

The first of these, Pianterella Beach, 7 kilometers east of Bonifacio, is the most boring, with a nasty swamp behind it. But if you go south and round the cape, which takes about 15 minutes, you reach Sperone (Bregope) beach in a pearly white bay with calm, shallow water, ideal for small children.

However, in summer there are no free places on this beach, so you can go even further along the coast, to Calalonga, where it is not so crowded. To get there, you need to drive east along the D-58 highway and after about 3 kilometers take the first turn on the right. Undoubtedly, the most picturesque beach in this part of Corsica is Rondinara - a perfect bay with turquoise water, fenced by dunes and framed by twin capes.

Fortunately, it is located quite off the beaten path, although the recent construction of paved roads along the coast may change this. To see it at its most deserted, arrive early in the morning. The turn to it is indicated by a sign at the 10th kilometer of the N-198 highway leading north.

Area: 138 km²;
Time zone: UTC+1, summer UTC+2;
Population: 2,700.

How to get there

Getting to the city is not difficult. The nearest airport is located just 21 kilometers north of the center. You can also get there by bus from Ajaccio and Bastia.

A selection of profitable air tickets through Aviadiscounter (searches like Aviasales + a selection of airline promotions and sales).

And to select intercity transport (planes, trains, buses) in Europe, try, the service offers the best ways to travel along popular routes.

Or make your own route.

A little bit of history

Attractions

Services for tourists that will allow you to save or get more for the same money:

Insurance: the journey begins with choosing a profitable insurance company, allowing you to choose the best option for your requirements;
Flight: Aviasales looks for the best tickets, you can also find airline promotions and sales in Aviadiscounter;
Accommodation: first we choose a hotel through (they have the largest database), and then see which site is cheaper to book it through RoomGuru;
Movements: You can order an inexpensive transfer to the airport and back, you can also rent a car on (Economybookings). In some countries, renting a car may be cheaper than public transport (for example, in Portugal);
Entertainment: book excursions from local Russian-speaking guides around the world at