While strolling through the picturesque streets of Bonifacio, don’t miss a visit to theChurch of Sainte-Marie-Majeure! This Romanesque sanctuary is the city’s oldest church, and is well worth a visit for the contrast it offers between its sober facade and its Baroque interiors.
In this article, you’ll find a selection of useful tips to help you prepare for your visit.
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why visit the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore?
Is the church worth it? Our opinion:
Yes, the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is well worth a visit. We were seduced by its pure Romanesque architecture, which contrasts with the elegance of its interiors. You’ll be charmed by the loggia, bell tower and baroque furnishings of this place steeped in history.
Why is the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore famous?
Eglise Sainte-Marie-Majeure is famous for being Bonifacio’s oldest church. Its typical Romanesque architecture and square bell tower make it an emblematic visual landmark in the city’s skyline.
WHERE TO STAY IN Bonifacio
Our favorites: neighborhoods and hotels
Option 1: a historic stay in the citadel
Hotel Spa Genovese – prices, pictures and availability
Option 2: around the marina
Hotel Solemare and its swimming pool with view! – see prices, pictures and availability
Option 3: in the surrounding scrubland
Hotel Cala di Greco overlooking the citadel! – see prices, pictures and availability
See our list of the 10 best hotels in Bonifacio, with our reviews
History in brief
- 1222: First official mention of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in a notarial deed
- Middle Ages – 18th century: The church became a central place in Bonifacio’s life, hosting religious services, the wheat market, justice and civil affairs.
- 1785: A report recommends demolition of the church and bell tower, as restoration work is deemed too costly for the community.
- Late 18th century: The church was finally restored and remodeled, retaining a rich array of religious furnishings (altars, sculptures, paintings…).
- 1982: The church of Sainte-Marie-Majeure is classified as a Historic Monument.
- 2007-2020: Major restoration campaigns
How to find us: Église Sainte-Marie-Majeure, Bonifacio
Where is the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore?
- In Bonifacio town center, 6 rue du Saint Sacrement
- Just a 5-minute walk from Bonifacio Citadel
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Corsica
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
How to get there?
The church is located in Bonifacio’s medieval old town, which is mainly pedestrianized. From the port or outdoor parking lots, you’ll need to walk up.
The journey takes about 15-20 minutes from the port.
Public transport in Bonifacio is limited. Only the tourist train serves the citadel. Find out more here.
Parking
As the old town is pedestrianized, you won’t be able to park directly near the church. Several pay parking lots are available. Parking is available nearby at Parking P3 Citadelle and Parking PS4.
If these parking lots are full, don’t panic, there’s plenty of other parking in the city.
Useful tips: duration, schedules, eating…
Best time to visit
Come whenever you like, except during church services!
Length of visit and main difficulties
Allow around 15 minutes to visit the church.
Access to the church is straightforward, but it is set in a maze of narrow streets with many steps. This will make it difficult for people with reduced mobility to gain access.
Advice on how to visit
We recommend you start by observing the exterior of the church and its distinctive square bell tower. Then enter and take time to admire the main nave with its Baroque decor.
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Visiting with children
There are no facilities for children in the church, but the town of Bonifacio organizes special tours for children and even an escape game in the town.
Schedules and rates
Admission is free, but there are no fixed visiting times.
Guided tours
Bonifacio Tourist Office offers guided tours including the church as part of a city discovery circuit. Find out more on their website here
Catering
The church is next to numerous cafés and restaurants. We spotted the Manghjà Bè – Bonifacio restaurant nearby for a quick break!
Find all our good addresses in our dedicated article.
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An emblematic building in the heart of the Genoese city
The Church of Sainte-Marie-Majeure is a strong architectural symbol of Bonifacio. In addition to its religious role, the church of Sainte-Marie-Majeure played a central role in Bonifacio’s political and social life during the Genoese era. In front of the entrance is the loggia, a small square covered by arcades resting on columns.
It was here that public affairs were settled: notarial deeds, sentences, disputes, proclamations… It was even here that the podestate, governor of the city, administered justice in person.
Look up and see the flying buttresses linking the church to the houses next door. It not only supports the structure, but also collects rainwater from an old cistern under the loggia. A place of worship and life!
Don’t miss the campanile either: you’ll have to step back a little to admire it, reaching a height of 25m. It seems to have been built in several stages, revealing a subtle blend of styles. Late Romanesque art rubs shoulders with an incipient Gothic style: the upper floors depart from the sober lines of the Romanesque to be adorned with rosettes, sculpted flowers and three-lobed windows. This singular bell tower, with its multiple influences, is sometimes compared to certain 15th-century Aragonese constructions.
Contrasting interiors
After observing the austerity of the sober Romanesque architecture, with its white limestone facade pierced only by a rose window, we are struck by the contrast offered by the interior of the church of Sainte-Marie-Majeure. Three naves open up before the visitor, in an apparent simplicity that highlights the richly decorated side chapels. A few Baroque details catch the eye here and there, creating a harmonious tension between structural simplicity and discreet ornamentation. Gradually, the eye is drawn to the choir, the spiritual and artistic center of the site.
The chorus, in fact, displays a completely different register, more solemn and refined. It houses a magnificent polychrome marble altar, topped by a richly decorated cupola. The high altar houses the relics of St. Boniface, patron saint of the town, as well as a statue of the Virgin of the Assumption.
Beautiful pieces of sacred art
Extensively remodeled in the 18th century, the church of Sainte-Marie-Majeure boasts remarkable liturgical furnishings: a baptistery, an altarpiece, marble altars from renowned Genoese workshops, and several sculptures and paintings by great Corsican masters. The paintings adorning the tomb altars were commissioned from local or nearby artists: The Last Supper by Saverio Farinola, The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and The Souls of Purgatory by D. Desanti, The Four Crowned Ones and The Virgin of Pity by G. Fubini, and The Apparition of Christ to Saint Isidore by Provencal painter J. Couston. Couston.
Among the works on display in the church, the statue of Saint Lucy caught our eye. Did you notice the little tray in her hand with two eyes? This representation symbolizes his unshakeable faith. Born into a noble family in Syracuse, Lucia refused to marry and devoted her life to the poor. According to legend, her spurned fiancé praised the beauty of her eyes, and she offered them to him on a platter. Since then, Saint Lucia has been invoked as the protector of eyesight.
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