Bonifacio odessey

(picture from Google)

“One of the most interesting places in the whole world has to be Bonifacio.” Bonny Calloway told me when I asked her my set of questions. Bonifacio is a unique fortress town in Corcia, built in 828 AD by Count Bonifacio of Tuscany. It’s timeless medieval setting resting on the carved out hill tops surrounding the sea, and harbor resemble the home of the Laestrygonians referred to in Homer's Odyssey of the 7th century BC, and is often thought of as such.

(picture from Google)

            “What made my experience so fascinating was the danger we faced,” Bonny went on to say. “We sailed to Bonifacio. In order to get there you must pass through these narrow cliffs. You could see these ancient statues carved into the rocks as you passed through; how they got them there I don’t know.” She laughed. “As we sailed, there were 20 foot waves rising behind us, pushing us along into the cove. Mr. Shakley [ her captain ] later told me and the rest of the crew ‘you know you almost died’. At the time we had no idea but thinking back, the waves were massive.”

            She spoke then of the town itself, of its medieval look and feel, “time stood still there, as if it were locked out from the rest of the world.” She continued. She mused about the cows, which stood along the beach and sighed dreamily in remembrance of the landscape. She struggled over the words on how to describe this place, and finally summed it up by saying, “It…Its just incredible.”

There are a few places that are worth noting:

  Porte de Genes:

It was the only entrance into the citadel in the town before the Porte de France was built in 1854. The drawbridge there was installed in 1598 and still operates today.

The Rue du Palais-de-Garde:

            It is one of the town’s most beautiful streets, it is known for its double-arched windows, and enclosed arcades. The older houses here do not have doors on the ground floor, as protection from attacks. The inhabitants used ladders instead in order to enter the houses.

Escalier du Roi d’Aragon (King Aragon Steps)

            There is a legend that these 187 steps were carved into the limestone cliff face, were built by the Aragonese in a single night, in order to try and take the town in 1420. The steps though actually existed long before this, used to carry water to the citadel.

So the next time you are floating around France’s oceans make a stop here. It will be worth you while, and add another interesting chapter to your own odyssey.

(picture from Google)