Bonifacio

About this place

Bonifacio is a town at the southern tip of the French island of Corsica, in the Corse-du-Sud department, about 25 km south of Porto-Vecchio and 69 km southeast of Ajaccio in a straight line. The Strait of Bonifacio separates it from the Italian island of Sardinia, and it is the southernmost commune of metropolitan France. The town sits on the best natural harbour, and the only major one, on Corsica's southern coast. The coast around it is chalk-white limestone, sheer and carved by the sea into unusual shapes. Since 1993 an international marine park shared by France and Italy has protected the strait. The old upper town stands on the edge of towering white cliffs streaked with layers, its stone houses hanging right over the water, and a long stairway cut into the rock, known as the King of Aragon's Stairs, runs down the cliff face. Below, the sea glitters turquoise and blue, and the detached rock called the Grain de Sable stands in the water. Visitors wander the lanes and ramparts of the upper town and walk the cliff path for the best view of the town. Boats leave the harbour for trips under the cliffs, into sea caves and to the Lavezzi islands, and ferries cross to Sardinia.