Phare de la Madonetta, Maritime beacon on coastal cliffs in Bonifacio, France
Phare de la Madonetta is a maritime beacon standing 11 meters high on a white triangular rock formation off Bonifacio's coast, featuring a square red tower centered on a rectangular building. The structure sits on an impressive cliff edge with views across the surrounding waters.
The lighthouse was built in 1854 and marked an important period in Corsican maritime history. One year later, the shipwreck of La Semillante became the Mediterranean's largest maritime disaster in these waters.
The lighthouse takes its name from local fishermen who placed a small Virgin Mary statue in a seaward-facing niche of the structure. This statue shows the deep connection between the people and this place.
The structure is fully automated and powered by solar panels, with its red light flashing every four seconds to guide ships across the water. Visitors should be prepared for slippery rocks and strong coastal winds, especially when approaching the cliff edge.
The lighthouse first lit up on August 15, 1854, a date overshadowed by a cholera epidemic that swept through the region that same year. This unusual connection between a navigation aid and a public health crisis remains part of the location's past.
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