Église Sainte Marie Majeure

The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore dates back to the late 18th century. On November 15, 1773, parish priest Giovanni Andrea Antonelli solemnly planted a cross marking the site of the future Church of St. Mary. At the time, the lower town was a densely populated extension of the citadel. This demographic development justified the construction of a place of worship specific to this district.

The foundation stone was solemnly laid by Monseigneur Guasco, bishop of Sagone residing in Calvi, on April 5, 1774. Thanks to generous offerings, both in kind and in money, from the people of Calvi, work progressed rapidly. By 1781, although the church was still unfinished, services were being held there. That same year, Monsignor Guasco had the Blessed Sacrament transferred there in procession from the former Santa Maria basilica.

Work was interrupted in 1789, then resumed in 1817. On August 15, 1819, on the feast of the Assumption, the first procession was held here.

The church, circular in plan, is surmounted by a dome pierced by a skylight with four openings. It includes four side chapels, dedicated respectively to the Immaculate Conception, Saint Erasmus (patron saint of fishermen and of the confraternity of the lower town), Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Anthony of Padua. The church is also home to an Italo-Corsican organ built by Luigi di Ferrari in 1830, recently restored by the Calvi commune.