Nativity of the Virgin of Bonifacio
September 8th Pilgrimage to the Hermitage of the Trinity, Bonifacio
2026
About Nativity of the Virgin
Every September 8th, Bonifacio celebrates the Nativity of the Virgin Mary at the Hermitage of the Trinity, located about 8 km from the town along the road to Sartène. The 13th-century Trinity Church serves as the sanctuary for this annual pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Holy Trinity. As the town's first protected site, designated in 1928, the hermitage overlooks the Strait of Bonifacio from a promontory roughly 220 meters high.
The day follows a traditional three-part rhythm: Mass at the Trinity Church, a family picnic on the surrounding rocks featuring traditional Bonifacio-style stuffed eggplants (i mirizani), followed by vespers and a procession of Bonifacio's five brotherhoods around the hermitage.
Nativity of the Virgin — edition 2026
The Nativity of the Virgin, locally called A Santa, is one of the great Marian feasts of Corsica. In Bonifacio, it is celebrated every year on September 8th, the fixed liturgical day of the birth of the Virgin Mary, proclaimed queen of the island in 1735. The feast takes place in the heart of an exceptional site, around the hermitage of the Most Holy Trinity, a 13th-century sanctuary located about 8 km from the town in the direction of Sartène, from where one can embrace the extreme southern tip of Corsica, the cliffs of Bonifacio, and the Mediterranean.
Blending religious fervor and popular Bonifacio traditions, this day brings together families and brotherhoods around masses, a procession, and a moment of conviviality shared on the rocks, in the spirit of the pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Holy Trinity.
September 8th, 2026 at the Ermitage de la Trinité
September 8th marks the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, a fixed liturgical date celebrated throughout Corsica. In Bonifacio, the day is spent at the Ermitage de la Trinité, the sanctuary for the annual pilgrimage to Notre-Dame de la Sainte Trinité, located 8 km from the town towards Sartène.
The day centers around mass at the church of the Trinité, family lunches on the rocks featuring mirizani, followed by vespers and the procession of the confraternities around the hermitage. The schedule for the 2026 edition has not yet been released.
A site with preserved traditions
The municipality is planning a landscape restoration project for the hermitage, funded entirely through private sponsorship. During a public meeting on August 11th, 2025, the mayor stated that work will only commence once full funding is secured and that current uses of the site, including the September 8th festival, will be preserved.
Highlights Nativity of the Virgin 2026
- A Santa Marian festival, celebrated on the fixed liturgical date of September 8th
- Celebrations at the Ermitage de la Trinité, a 13th-century church and Bonifacio's first listed heritage site (1928), located 8 km from the town
- Procession of the five Bonifacio confraternities around the hermitage
- Family lunch on the rocks featuring traditional Bonifacio-style stuffed eggplants (i mirizani)
- Views of the harbor, the old town, the cliffs, and the bay of Paragan from a 220-meter high promontory
Programme Nativity of the Virgin 2026
As of mid-August 2026, neither the town of Bonifacio nor the parish has released the schedule for September 8th. Times for masses, vespers, and the procession, as well as shuttle arrangements, will be posted on the town hall's website in the days leading up to the festival.
Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 — Ermitage de la Trinité
- Mass for the Nativity of the Virgin at the church of the Trinité — time TBD
- Family lunch for Bonifacio locals on the rocks, under the oak and olive trees, featuring traditional Bonifacio-style stuffed eggplants (i mirizani)
- Vespers and procession of the five Bonifacio confraternities around the hermitage — time TBD
The road to the hermitage is closed to vehicles throughout the day. Parking is available at the junction near Paragan beach, where shuttles will take visitors to the foot of the church.
Prices Nativity of the Virgin 2026
Practical information — Nativity of the Virgin
Location
Ermitage de la Trinité, approximately 8 km from Bonifacio (20169) via the road to Sartène.
Access
The road to the hermitage is closed to private vehicles on September 8th. Parking is available at the junction for Paragan beach, where shuttle buses transport visitors to the foot of the church. The town publishes detailed access information on bonifacio-mairie.fr in the days leading up to the event.
Admission
Free entry.
Contact
Mairie de Bonifacio, 12 place de l'Europe, 20169 Bonifacio, 04 95 73 00 15. Secteur paroissial de Bonifacio, 8 rue du Cardinal Zigliara, 20169 Bonifacio, 04 95 73 01 33.
The September 8th Pilgrimage in Bonifacio
September 8th, the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, is a widely observed Marian celebration throughout Corsica. At the island's southern tip, the people of Bonifacio travel to the Hermitage of the Trinity, 8 km from town toward Sartène, for the annual pilgrimage to Our Lady of the Holy Trinity.
The Hermitage of the Trinity
The site has been home to hermits and various monastic orders over the centuries, including anchorites, Benedictines, Franciscans, and Capuchins. The church dates back to the 13th century. It is surrounded by granite rocks covered in oaks, junipers, mastic trees, strawberry trees, and myrtles, as well as the endemic three-veined centranthus. From the promontory, the view stretches over the port of Bonifacio, the old town, the cliffs, and the bay of Paragan. As the town's first protected site, designated in 1928, the hermitage hosts pilgrimages and processions in June and September.
On July 17, 2006, Bishop Jean-Luc Brunin inaugurated the Notre-Dame de Tibhirine oratory there, dedicated to the memory of the seven martyred monks of the Notre-Dame de l'Atlas monastery in Algeria.
The Five Brotherhoods of Bonifacio
Bonifacio boasts the highest number of brotherhoods in Corsica: Saint Érasme, Sainte-Croix, Saint Jean-Baptiste, Sainte Marie-Madeleine, and Saint Barthélemy. They parade through the town during Holy Week and bring out their respective reliquaries throughout the year to honor their patron saints. On September 8th, they hold a procession around the hermitage.
The Mirizani
After Mass, families gather on the rocks under the shade of oak and olive trees to enjoy "mirizani"—Bonifacio-style stuffed eggplants—each prepared according to family recipes.
A Site Under Redevelopment
The municipality is spearheading a landscape redevelopment project for the hermitage, funded entirely by private patronage. Plans include upgrading the parking area, restoring natural meadows and monastic orchards, and repairing stone walls and the washhouse. During a public meeting on August 11, 2025, the mayor stated that work will only commence once full funding is secured and emphasized that current uses of the site will be preserved, including the Trinity festival on September 8th, the "I Paisani" festival after Easter, and weddings held on the premises.
Where does it take place — Nativity of the Virgin
Nativity of the Virgin in brief
History of Nativity of the Virgin
Edition 2025 Aug 2025Other festivals near Bonifacio
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