Eglise Saint Dominique Vue Exterieure Bonifacio

A jewel of Gothic architecture

Saint-Dominique Church

Set back from the narrow streets of the citadel, the church of Saint-Dominique is an impressive sight! Built of white limestone, its sobriety shines through the urban landscape.

With its striking octagonal bell tower, the church has become the delicate sentinel of the old military quarter. 700 years old and imbued with a strong sense of spirituality, it continues to challenge the passer-by on his or her way towards it… And it’s a great temptation to push open one of its magisterial red doors to discover the treasures of its rich past!

In the footsteps of the Templars

It is whispered that the church was built on the presumed site of a former Templar church dedicated to Saint-Laurent. The origins are therefore mysterious, but the presence of Dominican monks is attested as early as the 13th century. It was they who completed the building in the 14th century, thanks in particular to subsidies from the people of Bonifacio. Judging by some of the meticulous and sometimes enigmatic details on the western façade, there’s no doubt that the building’s aura and the preaching of the Dominican monks at the time radiated far beyond Bonifacian shores…

“In summer, the church vibrates to the rhythm of polyphonic singing concerts! The intensity of these ancestral voices provides a unique and moving experience, for those who want to immerse themselves as closely as possible in the Corsican identity.”

Corsica's only Gothic church

With its elegant purity of design, it dazzled Prosper Mérimée, the famous writer and Inspector General of Historic Monuments, during his visit to Corsica, who had it classified as a historic monument in 1862. Now it’s your turn to succumb to its charm, because… this church is singular! It remains the only building in Corsica to have been originally designed in a totally Gothic style. According to 14th-century texts, it is the island’s most “modern” building in terms of religious architecture. A conventual church, the loggia de l’Arsenal, just a stone’s throw from the church, and today’s adjacent town hall, were also part of it. It is the symbol of a time when Bonifacio was also a land of convents.

The shrine of Saint Bartholomew, or San Bartolu in Bonifacian, depicting the sad end of this saint flayed alive, was probably made in the workshop of a great Genoese sculptor: Anton Maria Maragliano (1689-1765). In addition to the finesse of its workmanship, particularly in the care given to the movement of the figures, you can’t help but be struck by its imposing stature! It weighs over 800 kg! Carrying this shrine in Easter processions or on its patron saint’s day, August 24, is a real feat of strength!

Wild beauty

The interior is a continuation of the exterior facades: it too is adorned with an architecture dedicated to simplicity, with a masterful use of ribbed vaulting.

“Letting in light” was a central concern of the early Gothic builders, and this church was no exception. It was originally wide-open, with regular openings in the upper sections of the nave and in the chapels. Bathed in divine light, the place was conducive to meditation…

In terms of sacred furnishings, the presence of 18th-century polychrome marble altars and paintings depicting the iconography so dear to the Dominican order bear witness to a prestigious past.

Voices of emotion

On a spring, summer or autumn evening, let yourself be transported by voices tinged with a strong island identity, those of the polyphonic chants that, every Thursday evening (and also on Mondays in September and October), bring intense emotion to the place. Both Saint-Dominique and Saint-François boast superb acoustics, revealing the full value of this intangible heritage. Whichever church you choose, the experience is well worth it for those who want an authentic taste of the island’s heritage. The season-long program of polyphonic singing concerts is so varied that it’s sure to win you over. So what are you waiting for?