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Origin and history

The Saint-Barthélemy well of Bonifacio originated in an aborted project of 1668, where a drilling had been envisaged on the Bonifacio plateau. This first project, documented by a sketch sent to Genoa, was abandoned because of the opposition of the brotherhood of Saint Bartholomew, fearing for their neighbouring oratory. The military archives of Vincennes and Bastia confirm that the current well, with its spiral staircase, was realized in the mid-19th century, although its design dates back to 1837.

The drilling of the well, with a diameter of 7 metres and a depth of 60 metres, began on 3 November 1857 and lasted six and a half months. The staircase was only completed in 1860. The latter, wrapped around the central well, has rest bearings approximately every nine metres. Initially, the extraction system was operated by wind power, as evidenced by the engineering documents of 1837, before being replaced by an electrified winch. The well reaches sea level in a cave opening on a small strike.

The Saint-Barthélemy well has been listed as a Historic Monument since 22 April 1994. It is associated with the fortified enclosure of the citadel of Bonifacio, stressing its importance in the military and hydraulic heritage of the region. Historical records indicate that its exact location is the Cavo Wood, near the city, although its geographical accuracy is considered poor (level 5/10).

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