The marine cemetery | Tourist Office of Bonifacio, South Corsica and its Lavezzi Islands

Cimetiere Marin Coucher De Soleil Mer Bonifacio

The marine cemetery

On the Boscu plateau, just a stone’s throw from Saint-François church and facing the sea, hundreds of crosses rise into the azure sky. This spiritual landscape is revealed to any visitor who ventures with curiosity to the tip of the Bonifacio peninsula.

With breathtaking views over the intense blue of the Mediterranean, Bonifacio’s marine cemetery is astonishingly beautiful. It’s well worth a stop, a visit, or simply some special attention, whatever the season. In such a moving place, we’d love the landscape to speak to us…

Beauty, calm and eternity

The Saint-François marine cemetery owes its name simply to its immediate proximity to the sea. Its location also makes it the most southerly cemetery in France.

But it is this beauty, unrivalled in the Mediterranean, that makes it one of the jewels of our funerary heritage. It is the pride of the people of Bonifacio. In their eyes, it remains their “Campu Santu” for eternity. In Bonifacio, eternal rest is tinged with blue.

“Bonifacio’s cemetery has the reputation of being one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean, and for many it is one of the most moving.”

The spirit of the place

An entrance worthy of the place! With its tympanum, cornice and capital columns, the monumental gate at the cemetery’s main entrance has all the hallmarks of an ancient temple. Originally built in pink granite for the church of Sainte-Marie-Majeure in Bonifacio, it respectfully invites us to discover this other world.

As soon as you enter the narrow lanes, you’ll be captivated by the peacefulness of the setting and the Olympian calm that reigns here. The hustle and bustle of the upper town is a distant memory. White is omnipresent, contrasting intensely with the blue horizon. The succession of tombs, witness to the wealth of yesteryear, invites us to take a solemn, timeless stroll without a certain emotion. We remain humble in the face of these richly decorated mausoleums that hint at past splendors.

We stroll between the immaculate tombs and lose ourselves with the strange sensation of having gone far away to a village in the Cyclades. The comparison may be daring, but the experience is singular.

Did you know?

The cemetery was created in 1823 for reasons of hygiene. It was located at this point on the cliff, far from the urban district, in the former gardens of the Saint-François convent.

Enlarged after the cholera epidemic that struck Bonifacio in 1854, the cemetery gradually took on its current appearance, with the construction of small chapels for funerary purposes by which families displayed their social success post-mortem.

A rich statuary at risk

If you’re a heritage enthusiast, you’ll be drawn to some magnificent 19th-century tombs, some of which have fallen into disuse.

If you’re an expert, you’ll immediately be drawn to one of the most spectacular: the Quilici family tomb. Built in 1884-1885 by architect Pierre Manguin, it is remarkable both for the materials used (white Carrara marble) and the architectural design, as well as for the quality of execution of the sculptures. The mourners are the finest examples. Their absolute delicacy and gentle melancholy evoke a certain emotion.

These tombs reflect the styles then in vogue on the continent, in Italy or France: neoclassical, neo-Gothic or orientalist. An architectural variety that offers an additional detour for the discerning eye.

Why not continue the walk with a visit to Le Gouvernail?

Attention, a change of scenery with something unusual in store! Built in 1880 by the French Military Engineers, this army infrastructure was a surveillance site at the entrance to the port and the Bouches de Bonifacio. It was equipped with a powerful searchlight capable of illuminating this strategically important maritime zone at night. Today, it offers a unique view of the Bouches de Bonifacio (almost 16/9 format).