Pietralba is a town in Corsica, 30 km southeast of L'Ile Rousse.
Its vast territory of 40 square kilometers ranges from 251 to 1520 meters, and is located on the eastern fringe of the natural and historic region of Balagne, on the northwest coast of the island.
Composed of two villages, Teto and Pedano, which merged in 1760, Pietralba overlooks the Ostriconi valley down to the coast. The location lined with rock edges joining a ridge line formed from north to south by several vertices Monte Astu (1535 m) and Monte Reghia di Pozzo (1469 m). To the west of the course of Ostriconi, relief, however, is made up of rolling hills, massive foothills of Monte Cinto.
Covered with scrub, oaks, olive trees, the scenery was conducive to the development of pastoralism.
Pietralba now has around 500 inhabitants and highlights its heritage, its environment as its craft units (production of biscuits with olive oil, cold cuts and cheeses) that delight hikers and authenticity. A paradise within a half hour from the beaches!
In terms of heritage, we started exploring the town by the main village of Teto, mountainside, which developed away from two towers of the twelfth century (one was converted into a house) around the church.
It is dedicated to Saint-Roch and dates from the fifteenth century. Note that it is composed of three naves with side chapels. Part of its unique charm comes from its roof covered with stones and its bell gable. The building houses a statue of St. Roch which is the subject of a procession on 16 August.
In the hamlet of Pedano on the other side of the valley, the chapel A Nunziata, dating from the fifteenth century, below the houses, was recently restored.
Santa Maria Assunta be added, at the eponymous pass, built in the tenth century and was rebuilt with the original material, which allows to observe small sculptures on some stones (human head silhouettes bird) dating from pre-Roman times.
A detour finally imposes Case Nove, town abandoned after the First War, located on a spur southeast of Teto. The chapel dedicated to Santa Lucia was restored there there are few, but the castle Lumisgiana that once guarded access to the cervix is always ruined...
Outside the villages and hamlets, Pietralba is rich also of its natural heritage. Two areas are classified and protected for their ecological interest: green oak also covering part of the municipalities of Urtaca and Lama and the peaks of Monte Astu and Monte Sant Angelo covered with thorny heaths, chestnut groves, ash, holly and oak forests.
Many hiking trails are possible including, from the two villages still inhabited the abandoned hamlet of Case Nove or protected areas. A marked trail connects also the ridges along the road to Balanina (RT 30), leads to another plateau where Tenda still evolving wild horses and a path made the connection between Santa Maria and Santa Lucia chapels. Beware, some courses have raised related difficulties. Maps and information +33 4 95 65 16 67 or +33 4 95 60 04 35.
