Location : about 10km from the open sea of Bonifacio
« The ship is horribly pitching ; impossible to stand
up ; We speak sat down on the floor, by groups, by holding
on the benches, we heve to shout to be heard. (…) Suddenly,
a great shock, a scream, one only scream, an immense scream,
tense arms, hands that hold on, astounded looks where view
of death shows as a flash….Mercy ! »
What one day- visitor of the Lavezzi islands, astounded
by its tropical beauty, could imagine that it was the place
of one of the biggest wrecks of the mediterranean, described
by Alphonse Daudet in « L’Agonie de la Semillante » ?
The 15th of February 1855, this frigate made of wood, leaft
for La Crimée, was caught up by a hurrican in « Bouches
of Bonifacio ».
It sank at about 12 A. M when the night
was dark. The was no surviver among the 750 marins and soldiers.
Today, a 10m and a 2 centimeters high pyramids, built shortly
after this tragedy, still testify to this wreck. A bit less
than 600 bodies have been burried there, the others have
not been given back by the sea .
All around, the surrounding is enchanting and totally virgin
: between the numerous figures and rocky heaps, the small
thiny sand creeks compete with the big tropical beaches.
Many paths meander through an as dry as compact maquis.
Paradise of the walkers, yachstmen, divers…and lizards,
the archipelago is submissive to a strict regulation from
its classification in natural reserve in 1982.
That is forbidden
to move away from the beaconed paths, if we manage to identify
it….
Many hours on the island are necessary to be able to see
the different facets and to take advantage of all its beaches
( to plan water and food ! ).
In high season and by beautiful
weather, the departures are quasi-permanent from the port
of Bonifacio, where about ten companies fight over the many
visitors. Do not hesitate to to go round before choosing
its ship and haggler over….
Lavezzi
: others pictures
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