The Lavezzi Islands
Located 10 kilometers southeast of Bonifacio
The Lavezzi Islands are an archipelago of 23 granite islands, islets, and reefs located 10 kilometers southeast of Bonifacio in the southern Corsica.They cover an area of 200 hectares and represent the southernmost point of mainland France.
From north to south
The main islands and islets of the archipelago, from north to south, are:
- Porraggia Islet
- Ratino Islet
- Piana Islet
- Sperduto Islet
- Cavallo Island, the only one inhabited, with its two islets: San Bainso and Camaro Canto
- Lavezzo Island, where the lighthouse was built in 1874, and two marine cemeteries are located.
History
Traces of human presence dating back to prehistoric times have been discovered, including several rock shelters from the Neolithic period.
In 1855, they were the scene of the shipwreck of the 'La Sémillante,' one of the deadliest incidents in the history of the French navy.
The frigate left the port of Toulon on February 14, 1855, with 380 sailors and 393 soldiers aboard, heading for the Crimean War. The ship was caught in a violent storm, shattered on a reef, and sank during the night of February 15th to 16th. All the crew as well as all the infantrymen perished in this tragedy.
In 1855, they were the scene of the shipwreck of the 'La Sémillante,' one of the deadliest incidents in the history of the French navy.
The frigate left the port of Toulon on February 14, 1855, with 380 sailors and 393 soldiers aboard, heading for the Crimean War. The ship was caught in a violent storm, shattered on a reef, and sank during the night of February 15th to 16th. All the crew as well as all the infantrymen perished in this tragedy.
Lavezzi in video
Discover the Lavezzi Islands from the sky
Ecology
The Lavezzi Islands were established as a nature reserve starting in 1982.
Since 1999, they have been part of the Reserve of the Bouches de Bonifacio and integrated into the Corsican-Sardinian International Marine Park.
