Every year, the Bonifacio Municipal Tourist Office, in partnership with the Town Hall's Heritage Department, offers a rich programme of free activities to mark the European Heritage Days.
Below is the programme of events planned in Bonifacio over the three days (subject to change):
FRIDAY 19 SEPTEMBER :
- From 10am to 1pm and from 2.30pm to 6.30pm - Exhibition "Parures et dévotion, du profane au sacré : vistimenti e giueli bunifazzini di i XVIIIu e XIXu seculi" ("Adornments and devotion, from the profane to the sacred: vistimenti and giueli bunifazzini of the 18th and 19th centuries")
Since 6 September, this exhibition has been highlighting the elegance and richness of Bonifacian traditional costumes and jewellery from the 18th and 19th centuries.
For the occasion, it will be exceptionally open on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st (the last day of the exhibition) from 10am to 6pm.
Espace Saint-Jacques / Free admission / No reservation required
- 10am - Guided tour of the "Parures et dévotion, du profane au sacré" exhibition by the Heritage Department of Bonifacio Town Hall.
Meeting point at the Espace Saint-Jacques / Free admission / Prior booking required
- 8pm - Immersive sound walk "How to feel the history of Bonifacio".
Discover Bonifacio in a different way thanks to a sound walk through the Upper Town: forgotten voices, sounds of the past and echoes of the place bring the past to life. Designed in partnership with the Town Hall, the Tourist Office and the guide-lecturers of the Extreme South, this immersive tour invites you to listen to and experience the town with all your senses.
Meeting point at the Municipal Tourist Office / Limited to 20 people / 1h30 tour / Free / Booking essential
SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER :
- At 9.30am and 10.30am - Tour of Bonifacio's forgotten galleries
Join retired Lieutenant-Colonel Michel Tercé on a tour of a little-known piece of military architecture: a former ammunition depot with galleries dug into the limestone rock.
Headlamps available on site / Bring suitable footwear / From age 10 / Meeting point in the car park of the Utile Bonifacio supermarket - Route de Sant'Amanza / Limited to 15 people / 1-hour tour / Free / Prior booking required.
Not recommended for people suffering from claustrophobia.
- From 10am to 7.30pm - Plein Soleil exhibition
Open to the public for the occasion, the Plein Soleil exhibition features some twenty works from the Centre Pompidou's visual arts, new media and design departments, set against Bonifacio's incredible heritage. Following on from the success of La Notte en 2023, this second part of the diptych extends the partnership between the De Renava association and the Centre Pompidou.
Caserne Montlaur / Free admission / No reservation required
- 10.30 am - Contemporary architecture and the heritage of tomorrow: l'Ortu Duzzi
Relive the design stages and the challenges faced by architects Buzzo & Spinelli in bringing the Ortu Duzzi, also known as the Maison des Pêcheurs, to life: a creation in dialogue with Bonifacia's heritage, between tradition and modernity.
Meet at the Maison des Pêcheurs / Limited to 25 people / 1-hour visit / Free / Booking required
- 10.30 am - Guided tour: Bonifacio in the feminine!
Hosted by Nela Nino, a guide from the Association des Guides de l'Extrême-Sud, this tour offers a chance to rediscover the Upper Town from a heritage perspective. This unique tour pays tribute to the women who have shaped Bonifacio's history, whether in the shadows or in the spotlight. The tour ends with a visit to the "Parures et dévotion, du profane au sacré" exhibition at the Espace Saint-Jacques.
Meeting point at the Office Municipal de Tourisme / Limited to 20 people / Tour lasts 1h30 / Free / Prior booking required
- From 2pm to 5.30pm - Get some height with a visit to the Torrione!
With free access during the afternoon, discover one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the citadel: the Belvédère du Torrione, with a 360° panorama.
Free admission / No reservation required
- 2.30pm - Family heritage - "Look up!
A challenge for the whole family or a group of friends! This treasure hunt through the narrow streets of the Haute-Ville invites you to look up and spot the hidden architectural details of the citadel. It's a fun way to discover the treasures and feats of some of the buildings. In collaboration with the Conseil d'Architecture, d'Urbanisme et d'Environnement (CAUE).
Meeting point at the Office Municipal de Tourisme / From 7 years / Teams of 2 to 6 people / Free / Prior booking required
- At 5.30pm - Talk in conjunction with the exhibition "Parures et dévotion, du profane au sacré" ("Adornment and devotion, from the profane to the sacred")
Hosted by Michel-Édouard Nigaglioni, art historian and researcher at the Service de l'Inventaire du Patrimoine de Corse (Corsican Heritage Inventory Service), former director of heritage in Bastia and curator of the associated exhibition, this talk traces the development of fashionable dress in Corsica from the 16th to the 19th century. It is based on authentic clothing, as well as portraits and old photographs from private collections.
Église Saint-Dominique / Free admission / No reservation required
- 8pm - Immersive sound walk "How to feel the history of Bonifacio".
Discover Bonifacio in a different way thanks to a sound walk through the Upper Town: forgotten voices, sounds of the past and echoes of the place bring the past to life. Designed in partnership with the Town Hall, the Tourist Office and the guide-lecturers of the Extreme South, this immersive tour invites you to listen to and experience the town with all your senses.
Meeting point at the Municipal Tourist Office / Limited to 20 people / 1h30 tour / Free / Booking essential
- 9.30pm - Concert of Corsican and Sardinian polyphonies
Come and enjoy a rare and vibrant musical moment, where two emblematic vocal traditions of the Mediterranean meet. The group Una Fiara Nova, bearers of the soul of Corsican polyphony, and the prestigious ensemble Tenores di Orosei Antoni Milia, guardians of Sardinian polyphony, unite their voices for an exceptional concert.
Église Saint-Dominique / Free admission / No booking required
SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER :
- 9.30 am and 10.30 am - Tour of Bonifacio's forgotten galleries
Join retired Lieutenant-Colonel Michel Tercé on a tour of a little-known piece of military architecture: a former ammunition depot with galleries dug into the limestone rock.
Headlamps available on site / Bring suitable footwear / From age 10 / Meeting point in the car park of the Utile Bonifacio supermarket - Route de Sant'Amanza / Limited to 15 people / 1-hour visit / Free / Prior booking required.
Not recommended for people suffering from claustrophobia.
- 11am and 5pm - Mini-conference on the history of the former oratory of Santa Maria Magdalena
Hosted by a member of the Venerable Confrérie de Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Bonifacio (Brotherhood of Saint Mary Magdalene of Bonifacio), this talk retraces the centuries of history of the oratory itself.
Maison des Confréries / Free admission / No reservation required
- 3pm - Talk in conjunction with the exhibition "Parures et dévotion, du profane au sacré" ("Adornment and devotion, from the profane to the sacred")
Hosted by Michel-Édouard Nigaglioni, art historian and researcher at the Service de l'Inventaire du Patrimoine de Corse, former director of heritage in Bastia and curator of the associated exhibition, this talk traces the development of fashionable dress in Corsica from the 16th to the 19th century. It is based on authentic clothing, as well as portraits and old photographs from private collections.
Église Saint-Dominique / Free admission / No reservation required
THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND :
- From 10am to 6pm - Exhibition "Parures et dévotion, du profane au sacré : vistimenti e giueli bunifazzini di i XVIIIu e XIXu seculi" ("Adornments and devotion, from the profane to the sacred: vistimenti and giueli bunifazzini of the 18th and 19th centuries")
Since 6 September, this exhibition has been highlighting the elegance and richness of Bonifacian traditional costumes and jewellery from the 18th and 19th centuries.
For the occasion, it will be exceptionally open on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st (the last day of the exhibition) from 10am to 6pm.
Guided tours of the exhibition will be offered by the Town Hall's Heritage Department on Wednesday 10, Wednesday 17 and Friday 19 September from 10am to 11am.
Espace Saint-Jacques / Free admission / No reservation required
- Free visits to historic monuments and sites: discover Bonifacio's most emblematic monuments and take in the unique panoramic views as you explore the city's rich and unique history.
- The Escalier du Roy d'Aragon from 9am to 6.30pm (closed shoes without heels compulsory).
- The Bastion de l'Étendard and its underground rooms open their doors to you from 10am to 5.30pm. Discover the "Faux-airs de Faussaires" educational project, run over several years by Bonifacio primary schools in the ULIS class,
- Le Gouvernail from 10am to 5.30pm.
Free admission / No reservation required
- From 10am to 6.30pm - Explore the citadel at your own pace with the audio-guide
Pick up at the Municipal Tourist Office / Free admission / No reservation required
- From 10am to 5pm - Exhibition "Shadows and Lights in the Mediterranean" by Jean-Paul Marcheschi
Organised in partnership with the Collectivité de Corse, the exhibition by the internationally-renowned artist comes to a close in Bonifacio with the work "Météore: Stella Cadente". This work explores the theme of light and shadow, a sensitive reflection of the Mediterranean identity and the richness it brings to the region.
Chapelle Saint-Barthélemy / Free admission / No reservation required
- 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm - Discover the former Sainte-Marie-Madeleine oratory, now the Maison des Confréries.
Dedicated to the brotherhood of the same name since the 14th century, it was in turn a church, a place of residence and, in the 20th century, a cooperative cellar for olive oil production. The millstones and presses in the old nave are still there, bearing witness to this singular history.
Maison des Confréries / Free admission
- Discover the heritage of the Haute-Ville with the fun app Pif Gadget - Les mystères de Pif and become Lupif, the adventurous dog!
Available on App Store and Google Play.
More info at the Office Municipal de Tourisme / Free / No booking required
- Learn the history of Bonifacio in a different way with the Heritage Trail. With the Bonifacio Autrement app, explore the town at your own pace and immerse yourself in its past through its fortifications, monastic streets and urban development.
Available on App Store and Google Play.
Further information from the Municipal Tourist Office / Free / No reservation required
- Fondation du Patrimoine: funds raised to restore the landscaped areas of the Ermitage de la Trinité.
Since 1996, the Fondation du Patrimoine has been working to safeguard and promote our heritage. Following on from the restoration of the churches of Saint-Érasme and Saint-Dominique, a new project involves the landscaping of the Ermitage de la Trinité, with a view to preserving this emblematic place of life, worship, culture and sharing.
More information to come...
To register for activities requiring a booking, click on the "Book" button.
Below is the programme of events planned in Bonifacio over the three days (subject to change):
FRIDAY 19 SEPTEMBER :
- From 10am to 1pm and from 2.30pm to 6.30pm - Exhibition "Parures et dévotion, du profane au sacré : vistimenti e giueli bunifazzini di i XVIIIu e XIXu seculi" ("Adornments and devotion, from the profane to the sacred: vistimenti and giueli bunifazzini of the 18th and 19th centuries")
Since 6 September, this exhibition has been highlighting the elegance and richness of Bonifacian traditional costumes and jewellery from the 18th and 19th centuries.
For the occasion, it will be exceptionally open on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st (the last day of the exhibition) from 10am to 6pm.
Espace Saint-Jacques / Free admission / No reservation required
- 10am - Guided tour of the "Parures et dévotion, du profane au sacré" exhibition by the Heritage Department of Bonifacio Town Hall.
Meeting point at the Espace Saint-Jacques / Free admission / Prior booking required
- 8pm - Immersive sound walk "How to feel the history of Bonifacio".
Discover Bonifacio in a different way thanks to a sound walk through the Upper Town: forgotten voices, sounds of the past and echoes of the place bring the past to life. Designed in partnership with the Town Hall, the Tourist Office and the guide-lecturers of the Extreme South, this immersive tour invites you to listen to and experience the town with all your senses.
Meeting point at the Municipal Tourist Office / Limited to 20 people / 1h30 tour / Free / Booking essential
SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER :
- At 9.30am and 10.30am - Tour of Bonifacio's forgotten galleries
Join retired Lieutenant-Colonel Michel Tercé on a tour of a little-known piece of military architecture: a former ammunition depot with galleries dug into the limestone rock.
Headlamps available on site / Bring suitable footwear / From age 10 / Meeting point in the car park of the Utile Bonifacio supermarket - Route de Sant'Amanza / Limited to 15 people / 1-hour tour / Free / Prior booking required.
Not recommended for people suffering from claustrophobia.
- From 10am to 7.30pm - Plein Soleil exhibition
Open to the public for the occasion, the Plein Soleil exhibition features some twenty works from the Centre Pompidou's visual arts, new media and design departments, set against Bonifacio's incredible heritage. Following on from the success of La Notte en 2023, this second part of the diptych extends the partnership between the De Renava association and the Centre Pompidou.
Caserne Montlaur / Free admission / No reservation required
- 10.30 am - Contemporary architecture and the heritage of tomorrow: l'Ortu Duzzi
Relive the design stages and the challenges faced by architects Buzzo & Spinelli in bringing the Ortu Duzzi, also known as the Maison des Pêcheurs, to life: a creation in dialogue with Bonifacia's heritage, between tradition and modernity.
Meet at the Maison des Pêcheurs / Limited to 25 people / 1-hour visit / Free / Booking required
- 10.30 am - Guided tour: Bonifacio in the feminine!
Hosted by Nela Nino, a guide from the Association des Guides de l'Extrême-Sud, this tour offers a chance to rediscover the Upper Town from a heritage perspective. This unique tour pays tribute to the women who have shaped Bonifacio's history, whether in the shadows or in the spotlight. The tour ends with a visit to the "Parures et dévotion, du profane au sacré" exhibition at the Espace Saint-Jacques.
Meeting point at the Office Municipal de Tourisme / Limited to 20 people / Tour lasts 1h30 / Free / Prior booking required
- From 2pm to 5.30pm - Get some height with a visit to the Torrione!
With free access during the afternoon, discover one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the citadel: the Belvédère du Torrione, with a 360° panorama.
Free admission / No reservation required
- 2.30pm - Family heritage - "Look up!
A challenge for the whole family or a group of friends! This treasure hunt through the narrow streets of the Haute-Ville invites you to look up and spot the hidden architectural details of the citadel. It's a fun way to discover the treasures and feats of some of the buildings. In collaboration with the Conseil d'Architecture, d'Urbanisme et d'Environnement (CAUE).
Meeting point at the Office Municipal de Tourisme / From 7 years / Teams of 2 to 6 people / Free / Prior booking required
- At 5.30pm - Talk in conjunction with the exhibition "Parures et dévotion, du profane au sacré" ("Adornment and devotion, from the profane to the sacred")
Hosted by Michel-Édouard Nigaglioni, art historian and researcher at the Service de l'Inventaire du Patrimoine de Corse (Corsican Heritage Inventory Service), former director of heritage in Bastia and curator of the associated exhibition, this talk traces the development of fashionable dress in Corsica from the 16th to the 19th century. It is based on authentic clothing, as well as portraits and old photographs from private collections.
Église Saint-Dominique / Free admission / No reservation required
- 8pm - Immersive sound walk "How to feel the history of Bonifacio".
Discover Bonifacio in a different way thanks to a sound walk through the Upper Town: forgotten voices, sounds of the past and echoes of the place bring the past to life. Designed in partnership with the Town Hall, the Tourist Office and the guide-lecturers of the Extreme South, this immersive tour invites you to listen to and experience the town with all your senses.
Meeting point at the Municipal Tourist Office / Limited to 20 people / 1h30 tour / Free / Booking essential
- 9.30pm - Concert of Corsican and Sardinian polyphonies
Come and enjoy a rare and vibrant musical moment, where two emblematic vocal traditions of the Mediterranean meet. The group Una Fiara Nova, bearers of the soul of Corsican polyphony, and the prestigious ensemble Tenores di Orosei Antoni Milia, guardians of Sardinian polyphony, unite their voices for an exceptional concert.
Église Saint-Dominique / Free admission / No booking required
SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER :
- 9.30 am and 10.30 am - Tour of Bonifacio's forgotten galleries
Join retired Lieutenant-Colonel Michel Tercé on a tour of a little-known piece of military architecture: a former ammunition depot with galleries dug into the limestone rock.
Headlamps available on site / Bring suitable footwear / From age 10 / Meeting point in the car park of the Utile Bonifacio supermarket - Route de Sant'Amanza / Limited to 15 people / 1-hour visit / Free / Prior booking required.
Not recommended for people suffering from claustrophobia.
- 11am and 5pm - Mini-conference on the history of the former oratory of Santa Maria Magdalena
Hosted by a member of the Venerable Confrérie de Sainte-Marie-Madeleine de Bonifacio (Brotherhood of Saint Mary Magdalene of Bonifacio), this talk retraces the centuries of history of the oratory itself.
Maison des Confréries / Free admission / No reservation required
- 3pm - Talk in conjunction with the exhibition "Parures et dévotion, du profane au sacré" ("Adornment and devotion, from the profane to the sacred")
Hosted by Michel-Édouard Nigaglioni, art historian and researcher at the Service de l'Inventaire du Patrimoine de Corse, former director of heritage in Bastia and curator of the associated exhibition, this talk traces the development of fashionable dress in Corsica from the 16th to the 19th century. It is based on authentic clothing, as well as portraits and old photographs from private collections.
Église Saint-Dominique / Free admission / No reservation required
THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND :
- From 10am to 6pm - Exhibition "Parures et dévotion, du profane au sacré : vistimenti e giueli bunifazzini di i XVIIIu e XIXu seculi" ("Adornments and devotion, from the profane to the sacred: vistimenti and giueli bunifazzini of the 18th and 19th centuries")
Since 6 September, this exhibition has been highlighting the elegance and richness of Bonifacian traditional costumes and jewellery from the 18th and 19th centuries.
For the occasion, it will be exceptionally open on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st (the last day of the exhibition) from 10am to 6pm.
Guided tours of the exhibition will be offered by the Town Hall's Heritage Department on Wednesday 10, Wednesday 17 and Friday 19 September from 10am to 11am.
Espace Saint-Jacques / Free admission / No reservation required
- Free visits to historic monuments and sites: discover Bonifacio's most emblematic monuments and take in the unique panoramic views as you explore the city's rich and unique history.
- The Escalier du Roy d'Aragon from 9am to 6.30pm (closed shoes without heels compulsory).
- The Bastion de l'Étendard and its underground rooms open their doors to you from 10am to 5.30pm. Discover the "Faux-airs de Faussaires" educational project, run over several years by Bonifacio primary schools in the ULIS class,
- Le Gouvernail from 10am to 5.30pm.
Free admission / No reservation required
- From 10am to 6.30pm - Explore the citadel at your own pace with the audio-guide
Pick up at the Municipal Tourist Office / Free admission / No reservation required
- From 10am to 5pm - Exhibition "Shadows and Lights in the Mediterranean" by Jean-Paul Marcheschi
Organised in partnership with the Collectivité de Corse, the exhibition by the internationally-renowned artist comes to a close in Bonifacio with the work "Météore: Stella Cadente". This work explores the theme of light and shadow, a sensitive reflection of the Mediterranean identity and the richness it brings to the region.
Chapelle Saint-Barthélemy / Free admission / No reservation required
- 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm - Discover the former Sainte-Marie-Madeleine oratory, now the Maison des Confréries.
Dedicated to the brotherhood of the same name since the 14th century, it was in turn a church, a place of residence and, in the 20th century, a cooperative cellar for olive oil production. The millstones and presses in the old nave are still there, bearing witness to this singular history.
Maison des Confréries / Free admission
- Discover the heritage of the Haute-Ville with the fun app Pif Gadget - Les mystères de Pif and become Lupif, the adventurous dog!
Available on App Store and Google Play.
More info at the Office Municipal de Tourisme / Free / No booking required
- Learn the history of Bonifacio in a different way with the Heritage Trail. With the Bonifacio Autrement app, explore the town at your own pace and immerse yourself in its past through its fortifications, monastic streets and urban development.
Available on App Store and Google Play.
Further information from the Municipal Tourist Office / Free / No reservation required
- Fondation du Patrimoine: funds raised to restore the landscaped areas of the Ermitage de la Trinité.
Since 1996, the Fondation du Patrimoine has been working to safeguard and promote our heritage. Following on from the restoration of the churches of Saint-Érasme and Saint-Dominique, a new project involves the landscaping of the Ermitage de la Trinité, with a view to preserving this emblematic place of life, worship, culture and sharing.
More information to come...
To register for activities requiring a booking, click on the "Book" button.
