miles from BONIFACIO
miles to 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
[Headnote: PORTO-VECCHIO.]
{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
[Headnote: SOLENZARA.]
{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
[Headnote: GHISONACCIA.]
{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.
[Headnote: ALERIA.]
miles from BONIFACIO
miles to 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.