Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The fort of Girolata is a military building built in the second half of the 16th century and completed in the early 17th century, under the impetus of the Office of Saint George. Located in the Gulf of Girolata, in the municipality of Osani in Corsica, it aimed to protect the coast from barbaric raids frequent at that time. The works, initiated in 1552 by Genoese architect Geronimo da Levando, were resumed after his death by Giovan Battista de Franchi. The ensemble includes a bastioned polygonal enclosure, a main tower (Torre Grande) and a secondary tower (Torre Mezza), as well as a chapel and a powder box.

In 1540, prior to the construction of the fort, the Genoese fleet captured the Turkish pirate Dragut, whose razzies regularly threatened the area. The fort was completed by extensions between 1590 and 1604, then repaired in 1610-1611 by Anton Giovanni Sarrola. Ranked a historic monument in 2013 after its acquisition by the state, it was subjected to an archaeological diagnosis by INRAP as part of a project of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica (PNRC), owner of the premises.

The Gulf of Girolata, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983 with the Piana Calanques and the Scandola Reserve, is a major tourist site. Accessible only by sea or hiking trails, the neighbouring hamlet is famous for its isolation and its history linked to the fight against piracy. The fort thus illustrates Genoese military architecture in Corsica, adapted to the maritime challenges of the time.

In August 2022, severe storms in Corsica killed five people, including a fisherman in Girolata, recalling the vulnerability of this coastal site. Despite its ranking, tourist surfing is now threatening the biodiversity of the Scandola Reserve, highlighting the challenges of preserving the natural and historical heritage.

Among the local figures, Guy Ceccaldi, nicknamed Marathon Man, was the emblematic factor of Girolata. From 1990 to 2006, he walked 7 km daily from the Cross Pass to distribute the mail, becoming a media icon for his dedication in this isolated village, accessible only by steep trails or by the sea.

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