Corte, Green Capital of Corsica
villages of the region
Corte
An inland town and the former historical capital of Corsica, Corte is transforming itself into the new Green Capital of Corsica. Thanks to the investment of the population and the Town Hall, our living environment is undergoing a major transformation. The aim is to beautify the town’s main thoroughfare, open up numerous hiking trails, equip the cliffs for climbing and create new outdoor activities such as the Via Cordata. Corte, a town on the move.
Halfway between Bastia and Ajaccio, at the foot of the Tavignano and Restonica valleys, the sea is never far away. In the 18th century, Pascal Paoli made Corte the capital of the Corsican nation by making it the capital of Corsica. A short history, but one that has shaped the character of the town. Today, the town is home to the Anthropological Museum of Corsica, the only university in Corsica and the headquarters of the PNRC (Regional Natural Park of Corsica). Corte and the surrounding area are ideal for hiking. The Restonica valley, with its challenging walk, will take you to the famous lakes of Melo and Capitello. The Alzo plateau, with its sheep and artisan cheese production during the summer grazing season, can also be discovered along the many paths. Through the Tavignano valley, you can discover the direction of Lake Nino and the arch of Corte, the arcu di u Scandulaghiu. Get on your bike and discover villages with an authentic character as you climb towards Bozio, or enjoy breathtaking panoramas as you cycle at the foot of the Aiguilles de Popolasca. You can also cool off in the Restonica and Tavignano rivers or go canyoning in the clear, refreshing waters. It is also possible to climb the cliffs and follow the long routes of the Restonica or Tavignano. Go horse riding or paragliding to discover the green capital of Corsica from the sky.
Bozio Region
The cradle of the paghjella, the famous Corsican songs, the Bozio is a region with many villages overlooking Corte. The furthest from Corte is Bustanico – Bustanicu, a village nestled in a valley that hides itself but allows you to get closer. On 8 September you can take part in the festival of the Virgin.
Alando – Alandu with its church, the first hamlet built on the outskirts, the second hamlet is about a hundred metres away.
Sermano – Sermanu, a village famous for its sacred polyphonic songs. It also has a refuge on the Mare a Mare trail, which starts in Moriani and ends in Cargèse.
Santa Lucia di Mercurio is a village made up of two hamlets. One of them is situated on a promontory with its church overlooking the river Tavignano. The other is Tralonca. A first hamlet with flat-roofed buildings lies below the village and has been abandoned. A second hamlet lies in ruins on Monte Tomboni. Its inhabitants fled after an invasion of ants who had come to punish the inhabitants, and in particular one of them who had killed the village priest, who had dared to start celebrating Mass without waiting for the priest.
Venaco Region
Today, Venaco is the most populated village in the area and a few shepherds continue the tradition of mountain pasturing that is so deeply rooted in central Corsica.
It is also a Mecca for canyoning in the Verghellu.
You can also go climbing in the Verghellu valley and hiking from Venaco or its surrounding hamlets, Casanova – A Casanova, Poggio di Venaco – Poghju di Venacu, Saint-Pierre de Venaco – San Pedru di Venacu or the listed village perched on a shoulder of Riventosa – A Riventosa.
Vizzavona Region
Vizzavona, a former holiday resort, is characterised by its architecture, which is closer to English than to traditional Corsican. The GR20 crosses this magnificent beech and larch forest via the Vizzavona pass. The walk to the Cascade des Anglais takes us back to the beginning of the 20th century. If you stop at the railway station, you will notice this old hotel, which is on a par with the buildings we still admire on the Riviera. The hamlet of Vizzano and its easy walks make it an ideal place for family excursions. Vizzavona is a hamlet in the municipality of Vivario, which today has about 500 inhabitants. Vivariu, which was a prosperous village, had more than 2,400 inhabitants in the 1850s.
Looking towards Monte d’Oro, a mountain that rises to 2,389 metres, we can see an old fort, the Fort of Pasciola, built in 1770.
At its foot is the Vecchio Gorge.
Vezzani Region
Noceta or Nuceta, a small village surrounded by chestnut, olive and holm oak trees, and its walks towards the Padule forest. Muracciole, the smallest and least populated municipality in the area.
These municipalities are bordered by two rivers, famous for canyoning and kayaking: the Tavignano and the Vecchio, but also vital for agriculture and daily life.
On the other side of the valley you can see the northern point, Punta Artica. Below is the village of Casamaccioli, where the Festival of the Virgin is held on 8 September. For three days, Corsica lives to the rhythm of the Niolu Fair, which has been held since 1835. Shepherds came to sell their goats and sheep. They slept under the chestnut trees because the houses were full.
On the southern slopes of the Golo Valley we find the villages of Lozzi, Corscia, Albertacce and Calacuccia. An EDF reservoir, fed by the waters of the Golo, forms an artificial lake.
The Mare a Mare crosses the village of Calacuccia, while the GR20 crosses the Vergio Pass. At the bottom of the Niolu valley, the Golo has carved out the magnificent Scala di Santa Regina gorge, which is the only way to get to Corte, Balagne or Bastia.
Niolo Region
