miles from AJACCIO
miles to VICO
{ }{33}
AJACCIO. At about two miles from the town the diligence commences the
ascent of the low Col of Stileto, passing the aqueduct for the Gravona
water. On the left hand are the granite quarries whence the large slabs
were taken for the monument to Napoleon in the Place d'Armes, as well as
the long blocks for the pillars of the Marseilles cathedral. To the
right are the village of Appietto, pop. 700, on a hill and the great
cliff Monte Gozzi, 656 feet high.
{12}{21}
Summit of the COL ST. SEBASTIEN, 1344 feet above the sea, commanding a
lovely prospect of the Bays of Liscia, Sagona and Cargésé, and of the
valley of Cinarca, with its villages and vineyards. At the foot of the
Col is a small inn called Le Repos des Voyageurs, where bread and wine
and capital sea-urchins can be had. They are eaten raw, and taken out of
the shell by cutting it in two horizontally.
{23}{10}
SAGONA, junction with road to Calvi, 79 miles N. (see p. 17).
{31}{2}
Summit of the COL ST. ANTOINE, 1488 feet. Near the top, at some distance
to the left, is the village of Balogna, pop. 600, while in front is seen
the splendid range of the Monte Rotondo, among which the most
conspicuous is La Sposata, at the head of wooded valleys.
The road to the left or N. leads to Evisa, 18 miles from Vico, pop.
1000, and 2770 feet above the sea. _Hotel:_ Carrara, a comfortable
house, where vehicles may be hired. Evisa is charmingly situated on the
confines of the forest of Aïtone, containing 3,749 acres. Beyond Aïtone,
or 11 miles from Evisa, is the large forest of Valdoniello, 11,483
acres. These forests, instead of extending monotonously on large plains,
plunge into deep valleys, or creep up the sides of high mountains.
From Evisa descend to Porto (see p. 18).
[Headnote: VICO.]
miles from AJACCIO
miles to VICO
{33}
VICO, pop. 2020. _Inns:_ France, where the diligence stops; Voyageurs;
Univers. Most picturesquely situated in the valley of the Liamone,
surrounded by steep mountains covered with apple, peach, chestnut,
walnut, olive and oak trees. On the opposite side of the valley is the
large whitewashed convent of St. Francis, with terraced garden shaded by
tall magnolias, beautifully placed on a thickly-wooded bank, above which
is seen the small hamlet of Nessa. It is a favourite summer resort of
the _élite_ of Ajaccio, who revel here on carpets of cyclamen, violets,
and a profusion of other wild flowers, in the shade of the dense foliage
of the chestnut groves around.
[Headnote: BATHS OF GUAGNO.]
Seven and a half miles from Vico up the wooded vale of the Liamone
and by the Bridges of Silvani and Belfiori, the village of Murzo and
the Col de Sorro, are the Baths of Guagno, with hot, sulphurous
springs, resembling in their properties those of Bareges in the
Pyrenees (see Black's _South France_). From May to September they
are much frequented, when a coach runs between Vico and Guagno.
Time, 2 hours; fare, 3 frs. Coaches can be hired at Vico for Evisa.
Charge, 10 frs.
Ajaccio to Sartène.