Bonifacio - Santa Reparata

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains.

Santa Reparata is well hidden a few kilometres north of Bonifacio.

The chapel of today was erected obviously in two periods. The apse and the eastern pediment, built of small white limestones, are the oldest parts. These may date back to the 7th century (some doubt that). The nave was built 12th or 13th century. The chapel (13,70 m x 6,70 m) has a simple tympanum over the door. A cross, flanked by two sheep.