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Origin and history

The church Santa Restituta, also called A Santa, is an emblematic sanctuary of Calenzana, in Upper Corsica, dedicated to St.Restitude, virgin and martyrdom of the fourth century. Built from the 11th century on the site of the ancient Roman cemetery of Olmia, it was the main church of the peave (medieval parish) of Olmia until 1715. Its architecture combines Romanesque elements (primitive nave of the 11th-XIIth centuries), Gothics (separate 14th-century chapels), and Baroques (chœur, dome and 18th-century decor). The crypt, built after the discovery of a sarcophagus in 1951, now houses the relics of the saint, proclaimed patron saint of the Balagne in 1984 by Pope John Paul II.

The building underwent several major changes, especially in the 17th century, when Calenzana's population growth necessitated its expansion. The works, carried out according to the plans of the Milanese architect Domenico Baina, were completed in 1707. In the 19th century, additions such as the decoration of the dome by the painter Cantinelli (1880) or the construction of the bell tower (1870-1875) by architect Guasco marked its evolution. The church preserves remarkable works, including a 15th-century cenotaph-reliquary, 16th-century funeral plaques, and a painted marble Madonna di Grazie, showing its central role in the religious and community life of the region.

Santa Restituta is inseparable from the turbulent history of Calenzana, especially during the Great Revolt of Corsica against the Genoese (1729-1769). In 1732 the Saint-Blaise church, located in the city centre, was the scene of a bloody episode: German mercenaries, recruited by Genoa to suppress the revolt, were massacred there by the inhabitants after being weakened by bee hives launched from the windows. A commemorative plaque recalls this event under the bell tower of Saint-Blaise. Santa Restituta, on the other hand, embodies local piety, with annual pilgrimages on May 21 and Easter Monday, organized by the Saint Anthony Brotherhood.

The archaeological site of the church also reveals prehistoric traces, such as a 2.40 m statue-menhir discovered in Luzzipeo and today sealed in the sacristy. This monolith, carved on its two sides, attests to an ancient occupation of the territory, long before the foundation of the Roman city of Olmia. The Olmia stake, mentioned as early as the 16th century, brought together Calenzana and Moncale, and had about 1,250 inhabitants around 1520. The church, classified as Historical Monument in 1990 with its enclosure, remains a symbol of the cultural and spiritual resistance of the Balagne.

In the 19th century, the area attracted historical figures such as Prince Pierre-Napoléon Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon I, who owned a hunting residence in Luzzipeo, near Crovani Bay. Although his house was destroyed, his legacy persists in Calenzana, where a square and fountain bear his name. The Santa Restituta church, with its mix of architectural influences and its role in local conflicts, illustrates the heritage richness of Corsica, between ancient, medieval and modern heritage.

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