The Church of the Immaculate Conception

It is on Place Paoli that the Church of the Immaculate Conception has watched over L’Isula – L’Ile-Rousse – ever since its construction began in 1876. Until then, the church at Le Scalu ( the town’s former sheltered harbour) had served as the parish church for the inhabitants. As it had become too small to accommodate the entire population, it was decided to build a new church on a plot of land linking the old and new parts of L’Isula.

Getting there

Since 1844

The project to build the new parish church in L’Isula began before 1976. Following the purchase of the land in 1872, the plans were initially drawn up by the Bastia-based architect Paul-Augustin Viale, and subsequently by Raphaël Nardini, whose architectural proposal caught the attention of the local council at the time.

It was thanks to a public fundraising appeal amongst the people of Île-Rousse that the project was financed. Built in three phases, the works spanned the years 1876 to 1892. It was inaugurated on 30 July 1893. Its Palladian-style façade and the intersection of its transept give it a monumental appearance that is unique in Corsica. It houses some remarkable furnishings, such as the marble high altar and a polychrome wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, both donations from the Duke of Padua. It also contains 17th-century works of art: a painting of Saint Jerome and a depiction of the Temptation of Christ.

The 21 columns

The Church of the Immaculate Conception in L’Isula remains the cornerstone of the town’s popular piety. It plays a part in the religious events in the lives of the people of Île-Rousse and marks the town’s key occasions.

It is here that the Confraternità di a Madunuccia di a Misericordia di L’Isula – the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy – gathers to celebrate the Easter festivities and the procession of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December.

During the summer months, it also hosts a number of concerts, just like the Church of the Mercy, situated a short walk from the town centre.