Name and Location

The Phare de la Madonetta, also known as Pointe de la Madonetta Light, is an active minor coastal light located on the northern edge of the limestone cliffs above Bonifacio, Corse-du-Sud, Corsica, France. The address is 94PV+QQ, Bonifacio, 20169 Corse-du-Sud, Corsica, France. The coordinates are 41°23′13″ N, 9°08′39″ E.

2. Construction and History

The Phare de la Madonetta was first constructed in the late 19th or early 20th century, with no recorded exact date of construction. The architect or designer is not officially recognized, but the structure's design is typical of minor "phare balise" structures erected by the French Lighthouse Service. Although it has a rich history, the lighthouse does not hold a Monument historique status and is managed as part of France's national lighthouse network.

3. Architecture and Materials

The Phare de la Madonetta is a small cylindrical masonry tower set on a low concrete base. The tower and lantern are painted red to contrast with the cliff face, while the structure itself is made from local limestone with a reinforced-concrete lantern housing. Although the exact height of the tower is not publicly detailed, the focal height of the light is 28 meters above mean sea level.

4. Light and Navigation

The Phare de la Madonetta emits a flashing red beacon (seamark:type "light_minor") with a characteristic sequence: Fl(3) R 12 s – group of three red flashes every twelve seconds. The range of the light is approximately 6 nautical miles, and it remains in service for local coastal and recreational vessels.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

Visitors can access the Phare de la Madonetta via a footpath from Bonifacio's city walls, which takes approximately 15 minutes to walk along a waymarked trail ("Sentier des Crêtes"). Although the tower is closed to visitors, it is possible to approach the base for exterior views.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The Phare de la Madonetta offers panoramic vistas of Bonifacio's harbor entrance, the Mediterranean Sea, and the northern tip of Sardinia from a cliff-top platform just east of the light.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local lore suggests that on moonlit nights, the silhouette of an old "sentinel" keeper is said to roam the cliff path. However, no historical records of ghost sightings are substantiated.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The Phare de la Madonetta is fully automated and has not had a resident keeper since the mid-20th century. The lighthouse remains in service for local coastal and recreational vessels but is not equipped with AIS or radar transponder.

9. Further Information

For further information, please consult "Phare de la Madonetta" on French Wikipedia (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phare_de_la_Madonetta), US NGA Publication 113 (2020), OpenStreetMap entry (way/66660045: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/66660045), or SHOM chart series.