AJACCIO
SARTÈNE
21
32
GROSSETO 1476 feet, pop. 600;
4½ hours by diligence from Ajaccio.
A little beyond the inn is the church, sheltered
by large ilex trees, which grow to a great height in this
neighbourhood.
AJACCIO
SARTÈNE
30
23
BICCHISANO 350 feet, pop.
1800, where the passengers dine.
The diligence then passes the villages of
Petreto and Cassalabriva, pop. 300, and shortly afterwards
reaches the summit of the Col Celaccia, 1910 feet, about 2½ m. E.
from Sollacaro, pop. 800,
where Boswell visited Paoli. Sollacaro is not on the highroad.
AJACCIO
SARTÈNE
39
14
OLMETO pop. 1650, hotel. On a hill, with an extensive view.
In the neighbourhood, on Monte Buttareto, are
the ruins of the castle of Arrigo della Rocca. No more beautiful sight
than that of Olmeto can be pictured. Immediately below the town the
ground dips steeply down, covered with corn or turf; or in terraces of
vineyard, varied with large groups of fine olive trees stretching down
to the shore. Above the village a vast growth of vegetation climbs the
heights. Among huge masses of granite are tangles of every shrub the
island produces, the wild olive or oleaster being one of the most
elegant; while every part of the heights close to the town abounds with
little picture subjects, with a clear blue sky for a background.
The road now descends to the coast, and after crossing the Baracci, near the hot sulphurous mineral baths of Baracci, arrives at
AJACCIO
SARTÈNE
44½
8½
PROPRIANO pop. 1000. H. France.
Every Saturday a steamer arrives from Ajaccio,
and returns on the Monday morning. Another steamer twice weekly between
this and Ajaccio. Near the bridge over the Rizzanèse, are the two Celtic
monuments called the Stazione del’ Diavolo.
Two and a half miles beyond the bridge commences the Route Forestière, No. 4, leading to Solenzara, 42½ m. N.E. This road ascends by the Rizzanese to S. Lucia di Tallano, whence eastward to Levie, 1970 ft.; and thence Zonza, 2586 ft. The road afterwards ascends N.E. by a picturesque ravine to the Col Bavella, 3965 ft.; whence after descending to the Maison Cantonniere, 1476 ft., it crosses the Col Larone, 2013; whence it descends by a winding road partly by the banks of the Fiumicello and partly by the R. Solenzara to Solenzara (see p. 36).
Shortly after crossing the Rizzanese the diligence commences the long ascent to Sartène, disclosing views of the great valley below and of the splendid snowy heights of the long range of mountains opposite, terminating in the lofty regions of the great Monte Incudine, 7008 ft.
AJACCIO
53
SARTÈNE 1000 feet; pop. 6010; Inns: Commerce: Univers.
Coaches daily to and from Ajaccio, Bonifacio and
Santa Lucia di Tallano. Old Sartène is a town of narrow streets
approached by a fine bridge, whence the whole valley is seen down to the
Gulf of Valinco. It still retains some towers and parts of the walls
erected in the 16th century. The houses are built of rough, dark gray
granite, with steep stone steps leading up to the main entrance, and odd
Italian chimneys, some in the shape of pillars with curious capitals,
others in the form of towers or obelisks. The houses bordering the
Nouvello Traverse and the streets leading into the “Place” form the new
town.
Corsica, Central Region
— larger view —
This grand mountain road, No. 196 bis, extends from Sartène, 73 m. N. to the Ajaccio and Corté road, which it joins at the 60 kilometres-stone, on the Col Serra, ½ mile from Vivario. All the diligences between Ajaccio and Corté halt at the inn of Vivario (p. 8).
After leaving Sartène the road crosses the Fiumicicoli and ascends the valley of the Rizzanese to Loreto, 12 m., and Cargiaca 15 m. N. from Sartène 1302 ft.; grand view. Near Loreto is S. Lucia di Tallano, 1270 ft., with a quarry of a beautiful amphibole, a variety of hornblende. The ground colour is grayish blue sprinkled with white and margined with black spots (see p. 37).
From Cargiaca the road enters the valley of the Coscione and ascends through the ilex forest of Taca amidst towering mountains and vertical cliffs by the villages of Zerubia and Aullene, 2736 ft., pop. 1100; inn; 21 m. N. from Sartène. It now crosses the Coscione, 3492 ft., then the Col Vaccia, 3898 ft., and descends by the Col d’Alisandri, 3426 ft., to Zicavo, 2445 ft., with an inn, 17 m. from Aullene, 3½ m. E. from the baths of Guitera, 38 m. N. from Sartène and 37 m. S. from Vivario.
From the Bocca Tinzole a road ramifies N.W. to Olivese 1460 ft., pop. 700, in the valley of the Taravo, 7 m. from Guitera by a beautiful road.
From Zicavo the road crosses the Col San Francesco, 1969 ft., to Cozzano, 40 m., pop. 900, and enters the valley of the Taravo, which it ascends by the east bank between two great mountain chains, the culminating point of the western chain being Mt. Don Giovanni 6405 ft., and that of the eastern Pointe Capella 6706 ft.
Three and a quarter miles up the valley from Cozzano a wheel road leads 1½ m. E. to the Maison Forestière of St. Antoine, whence a mule path by the Col de Rapara, 5557 ft., extends to Isolaccio and the hot baths of Pietrapola, p. 8, by a picturesque road through a beautiful part of the forest.
Four and a half miles above Cozzano is the Col Scrivano, 2959 ft., whence a mule path leads across the valley to Palneca, pop. 1050, on the wooded slopes of Mt. Pietra Cinta, 4958 ft.
A little below the summit of the Col is the Maison de Cantonniers de Scrivano.
Nine and a half miles N. from Zicavo is the bridge Argentuccia, fronting a grand semi-circle of mountains covered with noble trees. This is the commencement of the real Verde forest.
Eleven and three quarter miles from Zicavo is the Maison de Cantonniers de Ghiraldino, 3936 ft., 49 m. N. from Sartène, 2 m. S. from the Col Verde and 5 m. S. from the House of Refuge of Marmano. A little beyond the house a wheel road, left, descends into one of the finest parts of the Verde forest.
Thirteen and three quarter miles from Zicavo and 51 m. from Sartène is the Col Verde, 4290 ft., with, nearly a mile distant, the Maison de Cantonniers de Marmano. Below is the forest of Marmano, with its best trees cut down, and in the neighbourhood the sources of the rivers Taravo, 5678 ft., at the Col Tisina, of the Fium Orbo, 3783 ft. under a mountain a little to the N. of the Col Verde, and of the Prunelli, 4790 ft., among a group of high mountains to the W. The Vecchio rises from the springs on Mt. Oro.
Seventeen miles from Zicavo and 54 m. from Sartène is the Refuge de Marmano, 3182 ft., beautifully situated. Here was formerly the summer station of the Casabianda penitentiary. The escaped criminals committed such outrages that the government at the repeated petitioning of the shepherds were obliged to withdraw it. Finally Casabianda was abandoned also, and the prisoners removed to the neighbourhood of Ajaccio, where they could be well looked after.
Food and lodging may be obtained at the Maison Forestière, or 1¼ m. farther at the Maison de Cantonniers de Canareccia, 2760 ft., in the rocky defile of the Fium Orbo. Between this and Ghisoni, 6 m., 3 bridges and 2 low Cols are crossed. At the second bridge, the Pont de Casso, 4½ m. from Ghisoni, are seen the great pinnacles or needles and lofty cliffs of Albuccia Point or Kyrie Eleison, 4935 ft.
From the Canaraccia the road winds its way northward along the flanks of mountains sloping down to the Orbo, which it leaves shortly before reaching
Ghisoni, pop. 1740, 2160 ft., 62 m. N. from Sartène, 12 m. S. from Vivario, 8 m. N. from the House of Refuge, and 24 m. N. from Zicavo. Four m. N. from Ghisoni the road crosses the Col Scozzolatojo, 3916 ft., and 2 m. farther the Col Sorba, 4310 ft., 6 m. S. from Vivario, see p. 8. The descent from the Col Sorba into Vivario is very striking. It is effected by excessively sharp zigzags through a noble pine forest. Between the branches tower the bold forms of Monte d’Oro, Monte Rotondo, and, in the distance, behind the uplands of Corté, the crags of Monte Traunato.
The best resting-places on this road are Zicavo, 39 m. S.E. from Ajaccio, from which it is approached by a diligence; and the pleasant village of Ghisoni, where there is a very fair inn. At Vivario there is the Hotel Voyageurs. Guides and carriages should be hired either at Sartène or Vivario, 20 frs. per day.
By the Forest road No. 5, cut for nearly 11 m. in the face of the steep cliffs which enclose the Orbo. As this road in all the dangerous parts is hardly 11 ft. wide, it is necessary to ascertain before starting in a vehicle, the position of the carts conveying the logs, and to arrange accordingly.
The road descends from Ghisoni to the Pont de Regolo, 2077 ft., where it crosses the Casapietrone, and then follows the course of the Fium Orbo, crosses the Ruello Bridge 1450 ft., and enters the Salto della Sposata 4½ m. from Ghisoni, where the river flows in a narrow bed between vertical precipices, some more than 1200 ft. high.
The road, chiselled out of these cliffs, passes under 3 great portals. From the third is seen, through the great cleft in the rock of Inzecca, the sea at Aleria.
After this the defile opens up to close again between serpentine cliffs. It then crosses the 2 Ponts de Parabuja and the viaduct de l’Inzecca, and reaches the entrance to the Passage de l’Inzecca, 7 m. from Ghisoni, 985 ft. above the sea, where the road is cut through great serpentine rocks. This is the most difficult part for the waggons to pass. Map, p. 27.
The plain now widens, and 8 m. from Ghisoni a branch road leads to Vezzani.
Nine and a quarter miles from Ghisoni is the Col S. Antoine, 355 ft., and 8¾ m. farther is Ghisonaccia, p. 32.
SARTÈNE
BONIFACIO
33
SARTÈNE. The road winds its way through great blocks of granite
scattered on a plain studded with shrubby specimens of the ilex, towards
the shore of the Golfo di Roccapina, with a fantastically shaped rock
called il Leone Coronato. East from
the gulf the road passes the village of Pianottoli, 21 m. from
Sartène, almost due south from the singular mountain l’Uomo di Cagna, 3980 ft.; then the bridge
across the Figari at the head of the Gulf of Figari, 23 m.; the Col
de la Testa or Scopeto, 225 ft., 24 m.; and the bridge across the
Ventilegni, 27 m. from Sartène, and 6 from Bonifacio.
SARTÈNE
33
BONIFACIO pop. 4000. H. du Nord; France in the high town.
Diligences leave daily for Bastia, Sartène, and Ajaccio. A steamer
arrives every Saturday from Ajaccio and returns on the Monday. Bonifacio
was founded in 833 by the Tuscan marquis whose name it bears, to protect
this part of the island against the piratical incursions of the
Saracens. The high town is built on the top of a limestone rock rising
vertically from the sea. The low town occupies one side of the fine
natural dock, hemmed in by perpendicular cliffs with an opening of only
328 yards towards the sea. From the steamboat wharf a broad paved series
of steps leads up to the high town, entering it through the Porte
Vieille. In the old house fronting this Porte or gateway, Charles V., in 1541,
stayed two days and a night on his return from his unsuccessful
expedition against Algiers. Overtaken by a storm, he had taken refuge in
the Gulf of Santa Manza. The door of the house, decorated with an
arabesque on marble, is in the narrow side street. In the Place d’Armes
are the church of San Domenico, built by the Templars, characterised by
its octagonal tower with an embrasured termination; and the great tower
“Torrione,” part of the fortifications built by the marquis, and
formerly the most important part of the citadel. Near this tower is the
flight of steps “Redragon,” cut in the rock by the Genoese, which
descends by 202 steps to the sea. The small room over the gateway of the
citadel, opposite the house of Charles V., was inhabited by Napoleon for nearly
eight months. There are grand sea-views from the ramparts. The town
consists of tall, dingy houses, and narrow, steep, and in most cases
dirty streets. The promenade of Bonifacio is the small covered terrace
before the church of Santa Maria. Here also is the public cistern.
Of the numerous caves which pierce the base of the rock of Bonifacio, the most remarkable one enters from the sea, 214 feet below the Place d’Armes, and extends to an unknown distance. It contains a freshwater lake, which rises and falls with the tide. A staircase with a vaulted roof and consisting of 337 steps leads down to this lake. The water is brought up to the surface by a force pump, is perfectly transparent, with a slight calcareous taste. In the high town there are 39 private and one public cistern, in which the rain water from the roofs is stored up. The low town has a well supplied from a stream by an aqueduct. The afternoon is the best time to visit the caves. A boat for one or party should not cost more than 5 frs. The finest, the Dragonetta, cannot be visited when the sea is rough.
On Monte Pertusato (the south extremity of Corsica), 2 miles S.E. from Bonifacio, is a lighthouse of the first order, 325 feet above the sea. The southern promontory is pierced by a cavern hung with stalactites.
BONIFACIO
BASTIA
103
BONIFACIO. The diligence, after passing the Col Finocchio, 354 feet,
2½ miles N. from Bonifacio, the Maison Francola, 7 miles, the
bridge across the Stabiacco, 16 miles, and the Col Mattonara, 17½ miles
(whence the Route Forestière, No. 11, ascends 14 miles west into the
forest of the Ospedale), arrives in 3 hours at
BONIFACIO
BASTIA
27
76
PORTO-VECCHIO, pop. 2740. Hôtel Amis. Surrounded by its old walls, and
at the head of a beautiful gulf. The surrounding country is fertile, but
unhealthy during the hot weather, on account of the miasma rising from
the morasses and lagoons. To the N. of Porto, the mountains still
approach near to the sea; but beyond Solenzara (where the diligence
halts) 41½ miles from Bonifacio, they recede and leave free those great
undulating plains which characterise the eastern coast of
Corsica—plains almost uninhabited and covered with heaths. From
the north side of the Travo commences a series of large lakes swarming with fish and a kind
of cockle. They are separated from the sea by long narrow sandbanks,
like earthen break-waters. The malaria prevails from June to October,
but even then only the night should be avoided in travelling along this
coast. The road after passing by the hamlet of Favona, 33 m.,
arrives at
BONIFACIO
BASTIA
45
58
SOLENZARA.
Whence a wheel road extends westwards into the
forest of Bavella by the Col Bavella 18½ m. S.W., and the Col Scalella,
22 m., 2982 ft. to Zonza,
24½ m. from Solenzara; 4 m. farther is the village of
S. Gavino di Carbini, 2292 ft., and other 2½ m.
the village of Levie; 30 m.
S.W. from Solenzara, and 10½ from Propriano is S. Lucia de Tallano,
on the highroad to Aullene (see p. 27), and for continuation of this road
to Propriano see p. 26.
The road to Bastia, after passing the Travo, 44 m., Vicchiseri, 46 m., and Casamozza, 48½ m., arrives at the railway station of
BONIFACIO
BASTIA
53
50
GHISONACCIA pop. 850. On the Fium Orbo, 36 m. S.E. from Corté.
From this a department road of 4½ m. leads
to the hot sulphurous baths
of Pietrapola, with a large hotel in a healthy situation.
From Ghisonaccia a carriage road extends N.W. to the villages of Poggio-di-Nazza, 9½ m., and Lugo-di-Nazza, 11½ m. From Ghisonaccia railway station a forest road extends 18 m. N.W. to Ghisoni, where it joins the high road between Sartène and Vivario (p. 29). The southern prolongation of this road leads to Zicavo, Petreto, Bicchisano, and Portopollo, on the Gulf of Valinco.
Forty-six m. from Bastia is Casabianda. H. Perett; a village situated on a well-cultivated estate belonging to the government; formerly used as an agricultural penitentiary for juvenile criminals. In the hot season it is safer to pass the night at Casabianda than at Aleria.
BONIFACIO
BASTIA
58¼
44¾
ALERIA. Inn. The capital of Corsica till the invasion of the Saracens in
the 4th cent., now a poor village with an old Genoese fort, situated at
the mouth of the Tavignano, 1¼ m. from the Etang de Diane. Ancient
Aleria, the colony founded by the dictator Sulla about 82 B.C., occupied both banks of the Tavignano, which
waters one of the finest plains in the world, where winter is unknown.
The site of the town was well selected. The population was probably
20,000.
It was at Aleria that Theodore Neuhoff, a native of Altona, in Germany, landed to have himself proclaimed King of Corsica, March 1736. He died a pauper in London, and was buried in an obscure corner of St. Anne’s churchyard, Soho. On a mural tablet against the exterior wall, west end, is the following epitaph written by Horace Walpole:—“Near this place is interred Theodore, King of Corsica, who died in this parish, Dec. 11, 1756, immediately after leaving the King’s Bench prison, by the benefit of the Act of Insolvency. In consequence of which, he registered his kingdom of Corsica for the use of his creditors.” His capital was Cervione. The lake de Diane is a great sheet of salt water with one narrow opening to the sea. It formed the harbour of Aleria, and was provided with quays, of which a vestige still remains. The lake contains an island 460 yards in circumference, composed of oyster shells covered with luxurious vegetation. Fish, and a cockle a species of Venerupis, inhabit the brackish water of the lake.
Thirty-one and a half m. N.W., by a picturesque road up the course of the Tavignano, passing Cateraggio, 2 m., Rotani, 5 m., commencement of bridle path leading N. to Tallone, 7½ m., Tox, 9½ m., Campo, 11 m., and Moïta, 12½ m. Seven m. farther up the main road a ramification extends N. to Giuncaggio, 4½ m., and to Pancheraccia, 5½ m.
Up the main road, 21½ m. from Aleria, and near the bridge across the Vecchio, a bridle path strikes off S. to Rospigliani, 5 m., and Vezzani, 6½ m. A little higher a ramification extends 5 m. W. to Serraggio (p. 8). The road, after passing several other ramifications with the Corté and Ajaccio road, arrives at Corté, p. 8.
Ten m. W. from Aleria are the cold saline sulphurous springs of, 190 ft., considered efficacious in the cure of syphilitic diseases, resembling in this property the water of Aulus in the Pyrenees. See Black’s South France, West Half (Pyrenees).
BONIFACIO
BASTIA
79
24
PRUNETE. Inn: Gaetan. Junction with road to Ponte alla Leccia,
44 m. N.W. (p. 9), leading through a
region of chestnut trees and past many villages on the mountains, built
chiefly on terraces. A coach runs from the station to Alesani
called also Castagneto 1938 ft. 14 m. W.;
ascending by Muchieto 808 ft. 3¾ m., Cervione 1073 ft. 4½ m., pop. 1000; Inns:
France: Voyageurs: an untidy village, once the capital of King
Theodore’s realm. From Cervione the road describes a long detour to the
bridge across the Chebbia, whence it ascends to Cotone 1008 ft 6¼ m., the Col d’Aja 1236 ft., and
Ortale 1489 ft., 1¾ m.
from Alesani. Good red wine is made in the neighbourhood of Cervione. The dirty little village of Castagneto
or Alesani is picturesquely situated on the side of a mountain
overlooking a valley covered with chestnut trees. The diligence stops at
an inn, where bread, eggs and coffee with goats’ milk can be had and a
comfortable bed. A char-a-banc from this inn to Piedicroce (Orezza)
costs 10 frs., time 2½ hours, 11 miles. For Orezza, see p. 34. Passengers from Prunete to Piedicroce or
Stazzona should not stop at Cervione but continue the diligence route to
Castagneto, whence start next morning. The drive between Castagneto and
Piedicroce, 11 miles, is by far the most beautiful part of the road. The highest part of the
Col d’Arcarotta is a narrow ridge between the valleys of Orezza and
Ortia, commanding a charming view. See also p. 35.
BONIFACIO
BASTIA
87¼
24¾
PADULELLA. Four and a quarter
miles west by a good road is San Nicolao, pop. 600.
BONIFACIO
BASTIA
84¼
18¾
FOLELLI-Orezza station.
Junction with road to Piedicroce 14¼ m.
S.W.; by the course of the Fium’alto, the Chestnut country, and the
village of Stazzona, 13¼ m. from Folelli, ¼ m. from
and 355 ft. under Piedicroce, and 1 m. from and 200 ft. above the
spring of Orezza. The coach from the station stops at Stazzona, pop.
250. Hotels: *Paix, Casino. Very fine oleanders in the gardens.
On the opposite side of the valley of the Fium’alto is Granajola, with
the establishment Manfredi, 2016 ft. above the sea and 220 feet above
the spring. The hotel Manfredi has the most select society, is the
largest house, and its road from the spring is the least dusty; but as
no public coach goes there it is necessary to hire a private conveyance
either at Stazzona or Piedicroce, 3 or 4 miles. The charge in all
the hotels is 7 frs. per day, not including coffee or tea in the
morning. The hotels of Stazzona and the hotel Manfredi are the most
convenient for the Spa drinkers; those of Piedicroce are too
distant.
The Orezza spring is in the centre of a small terrace in the narrow valley of the Fium’alto, whose steep banks are covered with chestnut trees, and ascended by dusty winding roads. The water is a bicarbonate chalybeate, with an agreeable amount of free carbonic acid gas.
BONIFACIO
BASTIA
89
14
VESCOVATO STATION. Town 1¼ m. W., pop. 1500.
*H. de Progreso in the large “Place” where
all the coaches stop, near a fountain of pure gushing water, cold even
in summer. The rather untidy town of Vescovato is almost hidden in the
corner of a valley, 550 ft. above the sea, by woods of vigorous olive
and chestnut trees. From it a coach starts daily to Porta,
15 m. W., by a bad, dusty, jolting road, passing through Venzolasca, pop. 1300, on the
top of a hill, 732 ft., 1½ m. from Vescovato. Three m. farther
a road, left, 1 m., leads to Porri, 1718 ft., pop. 300. 7½ m. from Vescovato is the
Col S. Agostino, and then follow, 8 m., Silvareccio, 2198 ft., pop. 550;
8½ m., Piano, 2230 ft., pop.
170; Casabianca, 4 m.
farther, 2133 ft.; and then Porta,
pop. 630; Inn: H. Franceschi, in the “Place,” opposite the
church, where the coach stops. In July and August the coach goes on to
Piedicroce.
BONIFACIO
BASTIA
91
12
PONT DU GOLO. A little more than
3 miles from the bridge, at the mouth of the river, stood the town
of Mariana, founded by Marius
(B. 155, D. 86 B.C.), where
Seneca most probably spent his exile, and of which there remain only a
few insignificant fragments on the beach. In the vicinity are the ruins
of a chapel, and about a mile farther those of the church, called La
Canonica, with 2 aisles and a nave 100 feet long and 40 wide, ornamented
with rows of pillars of the Doric order. Both church and chapel are in
the Pisan style.
At Casamozza Station, 12½ m. S. from Bastia, the Aleria railway joins the one from Corté.
BONIFACIO
103
BASTIA. See p. 10.
Eighteen miles S.E. by “Courrier” daily. Fare 3 frs. Time 5 hours, by a mountain road, making immense circuits round by the heads of ravines among rich pastures and great chestnut and beech trees.
Nine miles from the Ponte is Morosaglia, pop. 1060, with an inn, where the coach stops. A conglomeration of hamlets on the slopes of a mountain, one of which, Stretta, was the birthplace of Pascal Paoli. 2 m. farther is the summit of the Col de Prato with an inn, 3215 ft., 2850 ft. below, or 3 hours from the top of San Pietro, commanding a magnificent view of the Castagniccia or the Chestnut country, and the islands of Monte Christo, Pianosa, and Elba, floating in the haze between sky and water. See map on fly-leaf.
The Castagniccia may be said to lie between the Golo and the Tavignano, bounded on the W. by the railway. The chestnut trees are not so famous for their size as for the qualify of their fruit.
The coach having passed the hamlet of Campana arrives at
Piedicroce, pop. 600, several inns, 2104 ft., 18 m. from Ponte alla Leccia, and 650 ft. above the spring of Orezza by a winding, dusty, bad wheel road, passing Stazzona 1978 ft. above the sea.
Although Piedicroce is not a suitable place for those who come to drink the Orezza water, it is an excellent centre for excursions, the favourite one being to the top of Monte S. Pietro 5795 ft. in 3 hours, by the cabins of Tajalto 4600 ft., and a beech forest. Mule to nearly the top. Guide and mule, 5 frs. See also above.
Coach in July and August to the Vescovato station by Porta, p. 34.
From Piedicroce the road passes by Pied’Orezza, 2106 ft., 1¾ m. from Piedicroce, Piedipartino, 2124 ft., 2 m.; Carcheto, 2172 ft., 3m.; Brustico, 2293 ft. 4 m.; the Col d’Arcarotta, 2698 ft., 5¼ m. from Piedicroce, between the richly wooded valleys of the Fium’alto and the Alesani, and commanding a very fine view of both. From this the road gradually descends to Prunete, the most beautiful part being from this Col to Castagneto called also Alesani, where there is an inn and whence a coach starts daily to Prunete Railway Station.
Seven miles from Piedicroce and 2 from the Col is Ortia, 2638 ft., pop. 400, hidden among chestnut trees; Felce, 2570 ft., 8¾ m., pop. 400; Pied Alesani 11 m.; Querceto, 2041 ft., and Castagneto or Alesani, 1938 ft., 12 m. from Piedicroce and 14 from Prunete Railway Station, the principal village in this valley.
A little below Castagneto, at the commencement of this chestnut wooded valley is Ortale, 1489 ft., pop. 280. The coach then having passed Cotone 1008 ft., 19¼ m., pop. 800, and having crossed the little bridge over the stream Chebbia arrives at Cervione, Inn, France: 1073 ft., 21¾ m. from Piedicroce, and 4¼ from Prunete. From Cervione another coach descends to Prunete Railway Station by Muchieto 820 ft. Prunete consists of a few houses near the beach, resorted to by bathers in summer, situated on the highway between Bastia and Bonifacio. See also p. 33.
46 m. S.W. This forest road, No. 4, ascends the valley of the Solenzara, crosses the great S.E. range at the Col de Bavella, descends into the valley of the Rizzanese, passes through the villages of Zonza, San Gavino, Levie, and Ste. Lucie, and joins the highroad between Ajaccio and Bonifacio at the miles tone 76·690 (47¾ m.) from Ajaccio, 3¾ m. from Sartène, and 42 m. from Solenzara.
The road, after passing up by the S. side of the river through olive groves and “maquis,” arrives at the Col and Maison de Cantonniers de Castelluccio, 210 ft., 4 m. from Solenzara. Two m. farther by the Pont de Ghiadole, the road crosses the Solenzara by the Calzatojo bridge, 6 m. from Solenzara, 340 ft., winds upward by the deep gully of the Fiumicello, which having crossed by the bridge 7¼ m. from Solenzara, ascends a steep winding road bordered with great trees to the Maison de Cantonniers de Rocchio-Pinzuto, 8¾ m., 1060 ft., at the foot of the great cliff of that name.
The road still winding upwards passes the immense wall of reddish cliffs called the Rochers de Bavella before arriving at the Col de Larone10¾ m., 2056 ft. The road, still winding, ascends a huge promontory between the torrents Fiumicello and S. Pietro, separating into two distinct parts the forest of Bavella, and crosses the Pont de Bocintoro, 1510 ft., 12 m. A little farther, in a wild yet beautiful situation, is the Maison de Cantonniers d’Arghiavara. From the Pont 1½ m. is the better house, la maison forestière de l’Alza, commanding superb views, situated among great trees and nursery gardens.
The ascent from this is by a steep road, almost impracticable for vehicles, through a forest of the stateliest and oldest pines in Corsica.
18 m. from Solenzara and 28 from Sartène is the Maison de Cantonniers de Bavella, 3885 ft., near the summit of the Col Bavella, 4068 ft. In this house of refuge there is generally comfortable accommodation and a supply of provisions. The surrounding huts are occupied in July and August by people from the plains about Solenzara, who come here to escape the fever-producing malaria. The house commands, even from the windows, grand views.
On the other side of the Col, 550 ft. below it and 2¼ m. from it, is the Maison de Cantonniers de Ballatojo, from which the road descends amidst great pines mixed with a few oaks and ilexes, in view of the Asinao forest and of the lofty granite pinnacled precipices, 10 m. long, between Mt. Colva, 4520 ft., and the Point Tintinaja, 6658 ft.
Zonza, good inn, pop. 1040, height 2582 ft., 24¼ m. from Solenzara and 21¾ m. from Sartène, hidden among chestnut trees and conveniently situated for visiting the forests of Zonza, Asinao, and Bavella.
3½ m. beyond is San Gavino di Carbini, pop. 770, height 2238 ft., a poor miserable village, where there existed in 1365 a sect of socialists, with whom even the women and children were held in common, and by whom were committed frightful abominations.
30 m. from Solenzara and 16 m. from Sartène is Levie, consisting of various hamlets. Inn where the coach, running between this and Sartène, stops. Pop, 2040, height 2238 ft This village, easily approached, is situated among mountains abounding with game. It commands superb views, and makes in April a very pleasant residence. In winter it is rather cold. On the road between Levie and Santa Lucia di Tallano, 5 ½ m. from the Col d’Aja Vignarsa, 2408 ft., are seen the valley of the Rizzanese and the Gulfs of Valinco and Ajaccio. On the grassy table lands of the Col d’Aja are many rare flowers, among others a species of red gladiolus.
5½ m. W. from Levie and 11¼ from Sartène is Santa Lucia di Tallano, pop. 1300, Inn where the Sartène and Levie coach stops. S. Lucia is built in terraces on the hills rising from the Fiumicicoli. Church 14th cent. The wines grown in this neighbourhood command good prices in the Corsican market.
Below, on the Fiumicicoli, is a hot sulphurous spring. On the way down to the river by the sides of the Point Campolaccia, near a place called Campolajo, is beautiful hornblende, page 27.
From Santa Lucia the road leads southwards by the Rizzanese to Sartène, p. 27.