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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The convent of Saint Francis of Boziu, located in Alando in Upper Corsica, was founded in 1623 by the Franciscans Observantins. This religious place, built at 765 meters above sea level, became a key witness to Corsican history, especially during the struggles for independence in the 18th century. The building, plan in L, includes a convent church and a convent building today partly in ruins, but some parts, such as the cells of the monks upstairs, remain.

In 1757, the convent was the scene of a historic confrontation between Pascal Paoli, emblematic figure of Corsican resistance, and his rival Mariu Emanuellu Matra. The latter, aspired to the generalate after being removed by a consultation held at the convent Sant'Antone di a Casabianca in 1755, attacked Paoli who was a refugee there. Clemente Paoli, Pascal's brother, intervened to repel the assailants, resulting in the death of Matra. This episode illustrates the strategic role of the convent in the political conflicts of the time.

Disused in 1791 after the Revolution, the convent served as barracks for the gendarmerie from 1804 to 1863 before being privatized. The church, which fell into ruins in the 1820s, was rebuilt in 1865 and became the parish church of the village. Today, the convent building belongs to a private owner, while the church, classified as a Historic Monument in 1995, houses a 17th century canvas depicting the Santa Parent, also protected.

The convent is also linked to the social and religious history of the region. Bozio's piève, of which Alando was a part, was a territory organized around emancipated communes, heirs of the 14th century popular movements such as that led by Sambucucciu of Alandu. This character, originally from the village, had fought against feudality by establishing a collective land property, lastingly marking the local identity.

The geographical location of Alando, in a mountainous and wooded area of Corsican Regional Natural Park, also influenced its history. The convent, located at the junction of roads D15 and D215, was a strategic crossing point between the villages of Bozio and Castagniccia. Its architecture, though redesigned, still reflects its past importance, with elements such as the late high-added gallery.

Today, the convent of Saint Francis of Boziu remains a symbol of Corsican heritage, mixing religious history, political conflicts and collective memory. Its inscription in the Historical Monuments in 1995, as well as the protection of its painting, underline its cultural and artistic value for the region.

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