Vizzavona Archaeological Trail

A beautiful walk in the forest

The Vizzavona archaeological trail is a short hiking trail that's ideal for a short, instructive stroll immersed in nature. Far from being overcrowded in summer, the calm of the forest reigns over this route, which is suitable for everyone, including families with children. The level of walking required is accessible to as many people as possible, and the gradient is gentle. Apart from a few steep sections, there are no major difficulties. The signposts and several signposts will help you avoid getting lost.

The river and the permanent shade of the pine trees keep things cool in the height of summer.

Start of the trail

Continuing past the Altagna restaurant, a sign indicating the route will locate your position and tell you to follow the old railway line in a north-easterly direction on an open stretch leading to an isolated house and the old station. The path starts past this house, where you will quickly cross the railway line, paying attention to the signs.

Bridges and river

You'll quickly reach the first hard bridge, which spans the Vecchio river, and then just under 10 minutes later, a second bridge - this time wooden - will take you back across the river.

Southwell Shelter

Discovered in 1911 by Charles Forsyth Major, an English palaeontologist and archaeologist of the Royal Society of London, the Southwell shelter consists of an imposing rock mass with several natural cavities capable of accommodating a handful of individuals.

This prehistoric site was one of the first recorded in Corsica. The Southwell shelter left no traces of dwellings or bones. On the other hand, pottery, ceramic and lithic remains have been found, as have numerous carved stone arrowheads. All these remains bear witness to a human presence dating back to the Early Neolithic period, some 7,000 to 8,000 years ago. The site must have been used as a natural shelter. Its vulnerable position suggests that it was not intended for defensive purposes and may have been used to house livestock farmers during their transhumance, like an ancestor of pagliaghju!

The shelter was named in honour of Mrs Edith Southwell-Colucci, daughter of the British vice-consul in Bastia and a friend of the British researcher she accompanied on his excursions. She helped him with his work and acted as his photographer.

Ideal for a short excursion

With the option of having a drink or a bite to eat before or after you get your legs moving, this little hiking trail is sure to please as many people as possible. It's a pleasant, simple and short walk (1h15) through the Vizzavona forest. Be careful, though, not to get hit on the head by the many pine cones that fall from their trees and can be heard tumbling down the branches before crashing to the ground.

IGN map and altitude difference - Sentier archéologique de Vizzavona