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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Santa Maria Assunta chapel in Favalello is considered one of the oldest examples of Romanesque architecture in Corsica. Originally dating from the 10th century, it was partially renovated in the 15th century, then completed by a side chapel and a bell tower between the 17th and 18th centuries. Its rectangular plan, finished with a semicircular bedside, reflects the typical characteristics of island Romanesque churches. Inside, the cul-de-four of the apse houses a set of frescoes organized in superimposed registers, illustrating major religious scenes such as the twelve apostles, Christ in majesty surrounded by the tetramorph, and a partial Annunciation.

The frescoes of the apse are a remarkable artistic testimony of the medieval period in Corsica. The first register presents the twelve apostles, identified by inscriptions on a decorative band, while the second presents a Christ in majesty, framed by the symbols of the four evangelists. The triumphal arch, adorned with an Annunciation of which only the Archangel Gabriel remains, and the lower register dedicated to Saint-Bernardin, former patron of the church, underline the iconographic importance of the place. The north wall also preserves a fragmentary scene of the Passion, with representations of Roman soldiers, adding to the narrative richness of mural paintings.

Classified as a Historical Monument by order of 16 October 1992, the chapel Santa Maria Assunta includes in its protection all the murals, recognized for their exceptional heritage value. Owned by the municipality of Favalello, located in Haute-Corse (Department 2B), it embodies both a historic place of worship and a major artistic vestige of the island. Its approximate location, noted as "a priori satisfactory" in the databases, makes it an accessible site for the study of Corsican sacred art of the 10th–15th centuries.

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