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Origin and history

The chapel of the Nativity, called Our Lady of Lazio, is an 18th-century religious building located in Corbara, Corsica. Built on the site of an ancient medieval chapel destroyed in 1758 for lack of capacity, it was rebuilt between 1765 and 1782, the year of its consecration. Its architecture combines a central nave arched in a cradle, a cul-de-four choir, and a facade decorated with doric and corinthian pilasters, surmounted by a sinusoidal pediment. Reuse bas-reliefs and a curved bay campanile complete its exterior decor.

Inside, the chapel presents a Latin cross plan with a non-protective transept and side chapels. The vaults, double arches and pilasters received in the 19th century a trompe-l'oeil decoration, adding an artistic dimension to the initial sobriety of the 18th century. The facade and wall of the enclosure were restored in 2010 by Terh. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1985, this chapel illustrates the evolution of places of worship in Corsica, between medieval heritage and Baroque adaptations.

The destruction of the original chapel in 1758 was due to its inability to accommodate the growing population of Corbara, reflecting the growing importance of collective religious practices in the region. The choice of an elongated plan and a sober decoration, typical of Corsican baroque, met both functional and aesthetic needs. The use of granite bellows, local material, and the presence of re-use bas-reliefs testify to continuity between periods, while marking a stylistic break with the Middle Ages.

The inscription in the Historic Monuments in 1985 underlines the heritage value of the building, both for its architecture and for its role in the religious history of Upper Corsica. The restoration of 2010, centered on the facade and enclosure, aims to preserve this testimony of the eighteenth century, a period marked in Corsica by profound social and cultural transformations, between declining genoese influence and the emergence of an assertive island identity.

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