A pleasant walk village to village, chapel to chapel, with wonderful balcony views!
This walk covers some of the prettiest villages in the Balagne ! From the the beautiful PISAN church at AREGNO to the perched hill village of SANT ANTONINO, this walk crosses through the garden of Corsica following easy paths and lanes. Towards the end of the walk you discover the AREGNO plain, before climbing back to the village. Easy going, with orchards, olive groves and historic villages en-route.
4h00 /10km /+500m / YELLOW
Food supplies: SANT’ANTONINO, CATERI, AREGNO
- Aregno to Sant Antonino (0h45 / 1.5km)
The walk starts at the village of AREGNO park in the village or in front of the church of LA TRINITE. Take the track to the left of the cemetery wall, and after 100m follow the YELLOW waymarked path that climbs to the right. The path is easy to follow and passes a square stone house, then soon after joins a cement track, head right here and climb steeply to the D413 road and the village of SANT ANTONINO, head for the twin churches and take time to explore the village. If CLOS ANTONINI is open, do try their lemon juice! The village is a maze of streets so just lose yourself in them. Climb to the top where you will be afforded a magnificent panoramic view.
- Sant Antonino to Cateri (1h30 / 3.5km)
From the village of SANT ANTONINO you need to drop down on the western side, the route follows a cement track and reaches the D413 road at a ridge, continue straight down the road, for under 100 metres and you reach a left hand track that drops down gently from the road (signposted BOUCLE DE LA PIEVE D’AREGNO waymarked YELLOW), take the path to the right. After a short climb, the path drops again gently on a balcony path with dominating views over the REGINO PLAIN and the MONTEGROSSO mountain. After crossing two narrow valleys, the path climbs again on a wide saddle before joining a track climbing from the plain. Follow this at it leads you through fields and groves to the village of CATERI. On arrival at the cemetery, turn right and climb the road D151 and the San Cesareo chapel, cross the road here and drop down the lane opposite into CATERI village. The village is a maze of cobbled streets, surrounding the EGLISE DE L’ASSOMPTION, baroque in style. From the church, head down the cobbled lanes of the village following Rue de la Tour (occasional YELLOW waymarks).
- Cateri to Lavatoggio (0h45 /2km)
Leaving the village of CATERI, the path leads downhill to the right after a garden. Descending through the vegetation, the path heads a distinct left at a junction (worn YELLOW waymark on a stone) towards LAVATOGGIO. You soon climb to reach the COUVENT DE MARCASSO, take a look at this windswept monastery and church.
From the COUVENT DE MARCASSO, the walk continues to the hamlet of CROCCE, LAVATOGGIO. At new villas, the path becomes messy due to the constructions, cross a track and head to the right, through the low stone walls, soon coming upon a spring and an old mill.
- Lavatoggio to Aregno (1h00 /3km)
Pass the mill and cross the stream and take the path right towards the AREGNO plain. The path drops down to a track, take this right at the abandoned house, and after 200m take a messy path left that drops down and rejoins the track further on, turn right again, and after a further 200m take a path left that climbs back to AREGNU. Climb through the village following the YELLOW waymarks till you arrive back at the Romane church of LA TRINITE.
Walks in Corsica 