[Headnote: PIEDICROCE.]
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.
Piedicroce to Prunete Station, 26 m. S.E.
The continuation of the road from Ponte alla Leccia.
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.
[Headnote: CASTAGNETO.]
Seven miles from Piedicroce and 2 from the Col is Ortia, 2638 ft.,
pop. 400, hidden among chesnut 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.
Solenzara to Sartène,
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 milestone 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 Larone
10¾ 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.
[Headnote: S. GAVINO.]
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.
[Headnote: LEVIE.]
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.
[Headnote: S. LUCIA DI TALLANO.]
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.