Latin Church à Cargèse en Corse-du-sud

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Origin and history

The so-called Latin church of Cargesis, built in the first half of the 19th century, embodies the community divisions of the period. In 1817, non-Greek families launched a subscription to build a Latin rite worship site, distinct from the existing Greek Orthodox church. The work of the nave and side chapels extended from 1825 to 1828, but the building suffered major damage during a storm in 1835, requiring a restoration led by architect Louis Brunetti in 1837.

Between 1847 and 1848 the tower was added by the entrepreneurs Rocchiccioli and Castiglioni, with a square plan topped by a lantern. Inside, the vaulted nave in cradle and the apse choir in cul-de-four reflect a sober neoclassical style. The interior design continues late: the painted decor of the nave was made by Edmond Rocchiccioli between 1970 and 1975, while the choir was decorated between 1992 and 1997 by Russian painters Anastassiya Sokolova and Valeri Chernoritski.

Ranked Historic Monument in 1989, the church retains original elements such as the bells melted in 1887 by Ferdinand Farnier. Its elongated plan, lateral chapels and undulating pediment illustrate a synthesis between local tradition and continental influences. The building, owned by the municipality, remains a symbol of the coexistence of the Latin and Greek rites in Corsica in the 19th century.

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