A short circular walk visiting some stunning perched hill villages on the Strada d’Artiglani !

From the village of PIGNA, this walk climbs steeply to the village of SANT ANTONINO, before dropping down a beautiful balcony path to the Convent at CORBARA, looping back to PIGNA.

« A sporty walk high above PIGNA towards SANT ANTONINO, then an easy return through pastoral Balagne past convents and chapels before returning to PIGNA. An easy family friendly walk.»

• Pigna (to Sant’Antonino) 1h00 / 2km

From PIGNA following YELLOW waymarks (and bright orange flashes used for a trail run) and with your back to the church square, initially take the access road out of town towards the D151, then after around 10m, take a small stone path to the left, that climbs to the D151 (just before the rubbish bins). Cross the road and take the path opposite that climbs the bank, and after a short flat section between stone walls, this soon becomes a steep path up the hill under trees. Further up the path levels a little, and opens out with views back to PIGNA. After the open area, under oak trees, the path then climbs a dirt bank onto a flat area, turning right onto a grassy track. NB. Here the orange flashes head steeply up the hill to bypass SANT’ANTONINO, and rejoin the track back down to the COUVENT DE CORBARA, you can turn right to after 100m join an old mule track, then just before SANT ANTONINO, the track joins a lane at a fountain. You can explore the village. SANT’ ANTONINO is one of the oldest inhabited villages in Corsica.  Perched high above the valley on a granite hilltop, it is visible from miles around and affords 360° views from the top.  The circular layout of the vaulted passageways and cobbled streets has changed little over the past 300 years and only a handful of people live here all year round. 

• Sant’Antonino (to Pigna) 1h00 / 3km

From the CLOS ANTONINI, take the track opposite, to the left of the car park (signposted to PIGNA with YELLOW waymarks) towards the small white chapel. Keep left, passing the small cemetery, taking the easy going, falling, balcony path through the maquis, remembering to close the two “gates” en-route. You arrive at the 15^th Century COUVENT SAINT DOMINIQUE DE CORBORA; you can take a look at the monastery, the largest in Corsica, and home to the religious community of Saint Jean, before retracing your steps (about 50m).

Take the track left downhill way marked YELLOW  to a fountain and cross the D151 road at a gate, opposite the chapel of NOTRE DAME DE LAZIO. Follow the path after the chapel, downhill to soon arrive back in the artisan village of PIGNA.