The chapel of Saint François, San Francè in Corsica, is dedicated to the saint born in Calabria in Paola around 1416, died in Plésis les Tours in 1508 and canonized in 1519. Founder of the order of the minims (minori), he is the patron saint of sailors in some localities.

It is celebrated on April 2; that day he was carried in procession to the village church, San Roccu, and remained there until Pentecost Monday.
Oriented N 27º E (frequent orientation of buildings from the Roman period), the chapel may have covered a pagan building.

Its presence is attested from the 18th century. Simple in design, with a main door and a side door, it contains an altar reminiscent of the Baroque style with trompe l'oeil columns.

A legend is linked to the presence of this religious building: halfway along the path leading from the chapel towards the river, a stone on the ground with three small cavities which perfectly correspond to the position of the thumb, the index finger and the middle finger of a man's hand.

It is said that Saint François, visiting the region, went up to the village of Puffiume (current Saint François district, or Alivetu Cumunu, which was a village in its own right in the 15th century, abandoned in the 18th century).

A battle was then raging there with i mori (Barbarians) and blood flowed freely. Saint Francis put his fingers on the said stone in order to stop the massacre; in gratitude the villagers consecrated this chapel to him.

Rates

Free access.

Features

  • Equipments

    • Parking nearby
  • Visit

    • Individual visit :
    • Group visit :

To know

  • Opening period

    All year round, daily.

  • Animals welcome

    Pets not accepted