- Hiking
- Costa Verde
- Fiuminale
Fiuminale at Velone Orneto - A Village Not So Abandoned
Fiuminale has been an abandoned village since the 1980s, and there has never been an access road. The only way to reach it through the forest is by footpath up the river, from the Pont de l'Enfer (Hell's Bridge) in the municipality of Velone Orneto.
Village abandoned since 1981
A vestige of a not-so-distant past, the village of Fiuminale still had around a hundred inhabitants when the war ended, before seeing its population decline inexorably until 1981, when the departure of the last inhabitant sealed the history of the village.
Built out of sight on the heights of the Castagniccia, at a time when the population lived in hiding to protect themselves from the barbarian raids that raided the Mediterranean coastline, Fiuminale is one of those abandoned Corsican villages, withdrawn from the world with no access by road, whose difficult access that was once their strength later became the cause of their depopulation.
A village not so abandoned
Thanks to a couple of producers who rear goats in the region, but also to the courageous work of the San Ghjiseppu di Fiuminale association, the village is now bustling again, at least in season, with the sale of cheese and migliaccioli, a Corsican preparation of brocciu or fromage frais. It's a welcome comfort to get your strength back while savouring the local specialities.
Chapel of San Ghjiseppu
The village comprises a number of houses, a sheepfold and the little chapel of Saint Joseph, which was restored in 2012 and whose door was made by the cabinet-maker Pantaléon Alessandri and bears the inscription "Sempre Fidati" (always faithful).
These old stone buildings, sometimes in ruins, are spread over two hamlets, Fiuminale suttanu at the bottom and Fiuminale Supranu about 10 minutes' walk higher up.
Waymarked path through the forest
The path is perfectly clear, sometimes steep, through the forest with a good shaded section.
Difficulties of the route
This very popular tourist trail requires you to set off equipped with good shoes, water and something to cover your head. In the heat of summer, the trail can be a challenge for young children and people in poor physical condition.
River and natural basins
The Canapajo river - a tributary of the Petrignani river - is dotted with enchanting pools whose silver reflections shimmer against the deep green of the forest, adding to the charm of the area whose calm is barely broken by the flow of the water.
The path runs alongside the river upstream, requiring you to cross it a few times before climbing back up to the village of Fiuminale.
Departure from the Pont de l'Enfer
On the edge of Velone Orneto, marking the entrance to the commune, the bridge of hell - u ponte di l'infernu - owes its reputation to the dark legends surrounding the pool below.
Today it is best known as the starting point for the village of Fiuminale, on the old mule track that runs alongside the River Canapajo.
Fiuminale in the Fora di Strada programme
Join Paul and Karine as they explore the village of Fiuminale in the Fora di Strada programme on France 3 Corse Via Stella.
