Sartène (Sartè)

Introducing Sartène (Sartè)

Said to be the most Corsican of Corsica’s towns, the grey-granite mountain town of Sartène has a sombre past. In 1583 Barbary pirates raided the town and carried 400 people into slavery in North Africa; raids only ended in the 18th century. Sartène was notorious for its banditry and bloody vendettas. In the early 19th century a disagreement between rival landowners deteriorated into fighting, forcing most of the population to flee.

These days, the town is best known for its increasingly famous Procession du Catenacciu, a colourful re-enactment of the Passion, which dates back to the Middle Ages. Each year on Good Friday, the Catenacciu (‘the chained one’), an anonymous, barefoot penitent covered in a red robe and cowl (to preserve anonymity), carries a huge cross through the town while dragging a heavy chain shackled to the ankle. The penitent is chosen by the parish priest from applicants seeking to expiate a grave sin.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009