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Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires de Bastia, built between the 4th quarter of the 18th century and the 1st quarter of the 19th century, replaces an old chapel destroyed in 1561 by the Genoese. Its architecture reflects the neoclassical style, typical of the period, with a revised facade in the 19th century. It houses a replica of the Scala Santa, a sacred staircase whose ascension on knees, accompanied by prayers, gives the faithful a full indulgence.

The Scala Santa de Bastia was authorized in 1816 by Pope Pius VII, in thanks for the hospitality offered by the Bastia people. This rare privilege is part of a historical context marked by the forced exile of 424 members of the Roman clergy in Corsica, imposed by Napoleon I after the Concordat of 1801. However, the staircase was not installed until 1884, long after the granting of pontifical privilege.

Inside, the baroque oratory showcases a marble statue from the Virgin to the Child dating from 1637, showing the artistic richness of the place. The church, classified as a historic monument in 1995, attracts thousands of visitors each year who come to worship the Scala Santa or admire its heritage. Major restoration campaigns, such as those of 1977 and 2019, have preserved its pavement, paintings and structure, partly funded by Bastia City Hall.

The site plays a central role in the religious and cultural life of the city. Masses are regularly celebrated there, and the holy staircase, unique in France, makes it a place of pilgrimage and devotion. The Scala Santa, a copy of the staircase leading to Pontius Pilate's courtyard in Jerusalem, symbolizes the link between Bastia and Christian history, while illustrating the political tensions between Napoleon and the papacy in the early 19th century.

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