Phare Pertusato

Phare Pertusato is a lighthouse standing on Cape Pertusato, at the very southern tip of Corsica, a few kilometres from central Bonifacio (Bunifaziu). It's a separate landmark from the well-known Madonetta lighthouse that guards the harbour entrance — Pertusato instead watches over the open sea toward Sardinia and the Strait of Bonifacio, where limestone cliffs drop more than a hundred metres straight into the water.

How do you get to Cape Pertusato?

Two walking routes lead to the lighthouse. The longer one, roughly 6 km round trip, starts near the Saint-Roch chapel on the edge of Bonifacio and follows the clifftop Sentier de Pertusato. The shorter option begins at the old semaphore car park off the D260 road — from there it's only about a kilometre to the lighthouse, and the full round trip takes 40 minutes to an hour. The ground is easy walking with no serious climbs, but bring water and sun protection: there's almost no shade anywhere on the cape.

What will you see there?

The tower itself isn't open for visits — you view it from outside while walking around the headland. Even so, this is one of the most scenic spots on southern Corsica: on a clear day you can see the coast of Sardinia and the Lavezzi Islands archipelago. A small islet at the foot of the cliffs, shaped like a ship's hull, is a distinctive feature of the landscape — locals sometimes call it "Corsica's rudder." The cape's name comes from "pertüsu," a local dialect word for hole, referring to rock formations pierced through by erosion nearby. The whole area lies within the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve, which protects rare cliff vegetation and colonies of seabirds.

A bit of history

The lighthouse's location was decided in the late 1830s — the lighthouse commission approved the site in 1839, and the structure itself was completed in 1844. The square masonry tower is about 16.5 metres tall, but thanks to its position atop a high cliff, the light sits nearly 100 metres above sea level. It was one of the first lighthouses built on Corsica, after the one on the Sanguinaires Islands. It still operates today, automated since 1985, with a light range of roughly 46 km (25 nautical miles).

When's the best time to visit?

Early morning or late afternoon works best — the sun isn't overhead then, and the light brings out the turquoise tones of the water against the cliffs. Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons for the walk; summer heat combined with the lack of shade can make midday visits uncomfortable. It's worth pairing the trip with a walk along Bonifacio's cliffs and the Madonetta viewpoint, since both are close by.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the Pertusato lighthouse? No, the tower is closed to visitors. You view it from outside while walking around the cape.

How long does the walk to the lighthouse take? From the semaphore car park off the D260, it's about 40 minutes to an hour round trip. The route from the Saint-Roch chapel in Bonifacio takes longer, at roughly 6 km.

How is Phare Pertusato different from the Madonetta lighthouse in Bonifacio? They're two separate landmarks. Madonetta stands at the entrance to the harbour and citadel, while Pertusato sits on a headland south of town, facing Sardinia.

What can you see from the cape on a clear day? The coast of Sardinia, the Lavezzi Islands archipelago, and a distinctive islet shaped like a ship's hull, nicknamed "Corsica's rudder."