The Republican journal., 1912-08-01
BONIFACIO.

OF Naples and the Lake of Geneva, we
left behind us the fairest of all Corsican
towns, Ajaccio, lying like beautiful
bouquet upon the calm surface of the
tranquil waters
The wild and troubled beauty of the
high mountains, the harmonious wind
ings of the untry roads, the exquisite
softness of the tints upon hill and dale,
and the transparent light, all denoted the
perfect charm of southern landscape.
We were on our way to visit three of
Corsica's seaport towns, Propriano, Bon
ifacio and Porto Vecchio.
The graceful white ship, "Liamone,"
SO christened in honor of one of the furi
Gus rivers, short-coursed and deep-chan-
nelled, of this Isle of Beauty, makes this
trip fortnightly, running to Bastia in
time for the Italian crossings to Leghorn.
We enjoyed the rough, broken outline
Of the island coast, clothed everywhere
with its wealth of evergreen maquis. At
s p. m. we dropped anchor in the Bay of
Valinco and hailing small boats were
soon on our way to the shore and supper.
Tiny Propriano, with its scant popula-
ton of 1000 souls, is one of the most
t1ourishing ports in Corsica. Briar wood
pipes, corks, macaroni and cigars are all
manufactured here and shipped in quite
appreciate quantities to the Continent.
There is a regular boat service to A iaccio,
Bonifacio and Marseilles, which is liable,
however, to be interrupted by maritime
strike, which is one Cf the drawbacks to
projected sea-trip in Corsica! For this
world is sadly honeycombed with anarchy
and crime.
The valiant Corsican patriot Sampiero
Corso di Bastelica landed at Propriano,
June II, 1864, at the head of twenty Cor
sicans and twenty-five Frenchmen, de-
termined to appeal to the energy and
patriotism Of the islanders to defend
their beloved country from the yoke of
the hated Genoese. Sampiero sent away
the galley which had brought them, and
when his followers demurred and anxious
iy asked where they might find safety in
case of an attack by the Genoese, the
stern warrior laconically replied: 'In our
swords"
Within a distance of two miles are the
sdicacious sulphurous springs of Baracci,
excellent in the cure of rheumatism,
govt, and gastro-intestinal troubles The
season is from June to September.
At dawn next day we were on our way
to Bonifacio, so aptly called "the Corsi-
can Gibraltar. -
A succession of enchanting views
charmed US as we proceeded leisurely
along, reaching Bonifacio at $50 a. m.
Bonifacio, with its fortified own. is per-
maps the most curious and original in all
Europe. 1t is perched upon harrow
peninsular, formed of chalk cliffs, Which
descend perpendicularly into the sea from
dizzy height. Recalmed during week
in June, 1888, in the narrow straits of
Bonifacio, which divide Corsica from
Sardinia, John Henry Newman wrote
the hymn, dear to all Engllsh-speaking
folk, Lead, Kindly Light"
The approach to Bonifacio by sea is
very fine. The precipitous cliffs, bathed
in the rosy morning light, the old town
with its narrow sunless streets and its
beautiful Pisan Cathedral and loggia, in
wife the tourist to speedy exploration.
Tho h orhoy off f.
way Bonifacio has population of 4, 118.
1t was founded in 828 A. D. by Boniface,
Marquis of Tuscany. 1t sustained a
memorable seige from August IA, 1920.
10 January s. 1927, against Alphonse v,
King Of Aragon Charles V. visited Boni-
facio in l54l, on his return from his
second Algerian expedition. Bonaparte
spent several months in Bonifacio in
1892. His house is still pointed out with
pride to travellers, though it is fast
erumbling into ruins
The staircase of the King of Aragon
was cut in the chalk cliffs in a single
night, says the legend, by the intrepid
soldiers of the warlike King, during the
memorable seige of l420-1421. Others
contend it is relic of prehistoric times.
The Church of St. Dominique, with it's
octagon belfry, was built in the XIII.
century, by the Knight Templars. There
are some old paintings and interesting
ancient woodwork.
In the Church of St. Francis, built in
The XIV. century, is the tomb of the
gentle Mousignor Raphael Spinola, Bishop
of Ajaccio, who died at Bonifacio August
II, 1887.
There is charming excursion to the
famous marine grottoes, ST. Antoine,
Monte Pertusato and Sdragonato. This
latter is the most important, and bears
N the stone ceiling of one of its caves,
miniature representation of the outlines
Of the island of Corsica. A strange freak
Of nature which always ELECTS the won
dering admiration of tourists. These
grottoes can only be visited if the sea is
calm. If good weather, one should also
visit the Isles Lavezzi, so sadly celebrat-
ed by the wrecking of the French frigate.