Santo Pietro di Tenda
Santu Petru (di Tenda), 339 PopulationInsee Santo Pietro di Tenda 0 to 869 meters 12566 hectares
To discover
Largest Commune in Nebbiu
Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda (Santu-Petru-di-Tenda) is the 9th largest commune on the island with its 12,566 hectares. In addition to the historic village, there is the hamlet of Casta, which houses a military zone. The coastline of Santo-Pietro features two paradisiacal beaches with fine sand and turquoise water among the most beautiful on the island.
The Beaches and the Coastline
Saleccia Beach
Saleccia Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Every day in summer, thousands of day-trippers and holidaymakers spread their parasols and towels on its white sand.
Stretching over more than a kilometer in the wild nature of the Agriates Desert, Saleccia Beach with its fine sand and turquoise water offers a truly postcard-like landscape.
Saleccia Beach was also a historical site for resistance during the Second World War.
Agriates Desert
The Agriates Desert is the link between two regions, Nebbiu and Balagne. Its name comes from 19th-century English travelers who noted its sparse life—due in fact to its easy access, which made it a strategic landing point for Barbary pirates raiding the island's coastline.
Once a land of cultivation before becoming pastoral, the climate is dry and fires are deadly. Dwellings are scarce as the area is only traversed by the hamlet of Casta along the departmental road 81. A common spelling mistake is “Agriates Desert,” whereas the term “Agriate” comes from Corsican, is already plural, and derives from the Latin for agricultural.
It is in the Agriates Desert that some of the oldest dolmens (over 7500 years old) in the Mediterranean basin were discovered.
Monte Jenuva
Monte Jenuva (also spelled Monte Genova) is the highest point of the Agriates Desert, rising to 418 meters.
According to Jean-Michel Casta—author of the book Les Agriate published in 1999—the Romans are said to have dedicated the mountain to Jupiter.
Religious Heritage
Church of Saint John the Evangelist
The Church of Saint John the Evangelist is the parish church of Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda and is impressive in size and proportions, comparable to a cathedral. Approximately 30 meters tall and 40 meters long, it is one of the five largest religious buildings in Corsica. Its foundation dates back to 1784, and the church square also houses the village war memorial.
The central bell tower originally featured a wall clock below the belfry until a facade renovation in 2016.
Chapel of Saint Sebastian
The Chapel of Saint Sebastian is located 500 meters up the road from the church. It is a small chapel in the center of the village, nestled between houses and topped with a modest bell tower.
It served as a school classroom until 1905, the year marking the separation of church and state.
It was rebuilt shortly thereafter and inaugurated in 1906 by the Archpriest of Sainte-Marie in Bastia, Canon Casta, originally from Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda.
Photos of Santo Pietro di Tenda
