Sainte-Marie Cathedral of Bastia

Sainte-Marie cathedral, jewel of the Citadel

The Bastia audio-guided tour stops you before Sainte-Marie cathedral, one of the essential monuments of the Citadel, approached with quiet respect. Dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, it stands in the heart of the upper town, on the rock of Terra Nova.

A cathedral born on the rock

The first church raised on the rock of the upper town dates from 1488; it became a cathedral a century later. The present building, completed in the early seventeenth century, replaced the old one, of which no trace remains after the wars with France. Its façade, reworked several times, now shows a fine neoclassical style.

What there is to see

Inside, with respect for silence, you admire a rich baroque decor and works of art testifying to the Genoese religious tradition. The cathedral notably houses a statue of the Assumption carried in procession during the great festivals. It is a high spiritual place of Bastia, in the heart of the historic Citadel district.

Practical information

Sainte-Marie cathedral is in the heart of the Citadel of Bastia, in the Terra Nova district. A place of worship, it can be visited with respect for silence and services; opening times may vary with celebrations and the season. Access is through the lanes of the upper town.

To whom is the cathedral dedicated?

Sainte-Marie cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin. It stands in the heart of the Citadel, in the Terra Nova district.

How long has there been a cathedral on this rock?

A first church was raised on the rock in 1488 and became a cathedral a century later. The present building, which replaces it, was completed in the early seventeenth century.