Urban Citadel
The history of the fort’s founding goes back to ancient times. One thing is certain: by the 12th century, a powerful fortress was already standing on Monte-Rastello hill, having survived many unsuccessful assaults. Only in 1554, after nearly half a year of siege, did the French manage to capture this fort-which by then had already become little more than rubble-and then carefully restored it, as they did many houses tucked between the fortress walls, which at that time, in fact, were essentially the city itself. Interestingly, many house-forts were designed so that entry was possible only via special detachable ladders, from the upper floor-so it’s not hard to imagine the difficulties involved in storming such a unique stronghold.
Bastion Etenadar
Bastion - a preserved fragment of an impregnable fortress, built in the Middle Ages to protect the only sea gate to the island on the side facing Sardinia. In the 16th century, the fortress was taken by Turkish troops in alliance with the French, destroying it, but later they strengthened the remains of the bastion. Today, the memorial to the past of Bonifacio is located here - a museum reconstructing a series of events from the city’s history.
The Stairway of the King of Aragon
According to legend, this staircase of 187 steps leading to the cave was carved into the rock in just one night in 1420 during the siege of Bonifacio by the Spanish. The truth, however, is that there is no exact information about who carved it. One version says it was local residents, dying of thirst and wanting to reach a freshwater lake hidden within the rock, while another legend claims that King of Aragon Alfonso V wanted to use it to enter the impregnable city. There is also one more, less heroic account of how the staircase came to be: it is said to have been built by Franciscan monks long before, to gain access to a source of fresh water.
Church of Saint Dominic
St. Dominic’s Church is the largest church on Corsica and one of the few Gothic structures on the island. The most remarkable part of the 13th-century temple is the octagonal bell tower on a square base, crowned with crenellated walls. The church was part of a Dominican monastery, which no longer exists. Inside, you’ll find an altarpiece from the 18th century made of colored marble and a reliquary from the same period, still used during religious celebrations.
