Chapel of Col St Antoine Ajaccio, Chapel in Ajaccio, France
The Chapelle du Col St Antoine is a small stone chapel on a hilltop near the coast of Ajaccio, on a piece of land called Campo di Reta. Outside, a statue of Saint Anthony stands near the entrance, and the tower rises to about 52 feet (16 meters).
The chapel was built in 1954 by the Franciscan brothers, after the city of Ajaccio gave them the land at the end of 1953. It was originally meant to serve the workers at the nearby military camp of La Parata and was dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua.
Every year on January 17, locals walk up to the chapel to celebrate the feast of Saint Anthony of Padua, following a route their grandparents took before them. During the celebration, bread is blessed and shared among those present, a custom that has been kept alive by local groups including the Confrérie Sant'Antonu di u Monti.
The chapel is easy to reach on foot from the nearby parking area, and the path offers views of the coastline along the way. The Maison du Grand Site, close by, provides information about the area and makes a convenient starting point for a walk in the surroundings.
Although the chapel was built as an active place of worship for military workers, it no longer holds regular services today. Visitors still come, and some touch the statue of Saint Anthony outside as part of a small pilgrimage gesture that has become a local habit.
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