Bouches de Bonifacio Nature Reserve

The city of cliffs lives up to its name. After embarking in the port, we gradually make our way towards the exit of the Narrows, where the Madonetta lighthouse watches over sailors and yachtsmen from its spur. Below the town perched on its vertiginous walls, we are captivated by the beauty of these gravity-defying dwellings. As we sail through the strait, we notice a narrow cut in the limestone itself. It’s another way of looking at the 189 steps of the King of Aragon’s staircase, and the technical feat it must have been to build such a structure in the 15th century. While the harmony of the setting is a great escape, it’s important to remember that the nature reserve is a fragile and protected area. That’s why it’s forbidden to “introduce, harm or remove animals, plants, minerals or fossils” within the general perimeter of the reserve. Boat mooring is also regulated, and beaconing plans have been drawn up, as it is forbidden to drop anchor on the Posidonia. In addition, two specific zones have been created. The first, known as the “reinforced protection” zone, prohibits land-based hunting and underwater fishing. In the second, the “no-take” zone, all forms of fishing are prohibited, as is scuba diving.