N°15 - Verticale Feliceto - San Parteo
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Couvent de Tuani
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The convent was founded on 27 April 1494 by the Franciscans, who only left when the Revolution happened, never to return. It is now privately owned and the owners host various religious events and other celebrations, in an attempt to breathe new life into the site.
After the dispersion of 1797 the convent and its garden were sold. In 1812 the municipalities of Costa, Occhiatana and Ville di Paraso bought the church square and the church, which was falling into disrepair. In 1870, the Capuchins were offered the square and the church by the municipalities so that they could restore it and worship there. The Capuchins set about the task and were helped by the population and in particular by Bonaventure Malaspina of Ville di Paraso. On 22 January 1872 the first mass was celebrated in the rebuilt church. In 1873 the superior of the convent bought a 100 kg bell. In the following years the pilgrimages testify to the devotion to the Virgin. The Pontiff, by a decree of 09/12/1875, granted that the solemnity of Our Lady of Lourdes could be celebrated in Tuani, the convent took the name of Our Lady of Lourdes, while the church was dedicated to St John the Baptist (Pieve San Giovanni di Tuani being part of the diocese of Marana). On 10 June 1880, as the expulsion of the religious was feared, Mr Malaspina was asked to mortgage the convent for 4000fr in order to save it. In 1903, new expulsions took place and the convent remained closed until the return of the religious in 1920. Immediately the traditions were resumed and the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes was henceforth solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday in May. On January 16, 1967, as there were too few religious, the convent was closed. It was sold to Catherine Deneuve on July 28, 1969 via a company in Liechetenstein. The festival is no longer celebrated and the convent is no longer maintained; it is finally sold in 1977 and the new owners try to bring back to life this place full of history, the festival takes place there every year with mass and procession, concerts are given. The convent was listed in the Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments Historiques (Supplementary Inventory of Historical Monuments) by a decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment on 30 March 1978. The bell tower was restored in 1980 and 1990, and fitted with a lightning rod. In 1999, the former gardens of the convent (Agro Santo), oak woods, chestnut trees, olive trees, springs and the built-up fountain used as a washhouse, were bought back to reconstitute the original estate.

Eglise paroissiale San Salvatore
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Located in Costa village centre, the parish church of the Holy Saviour is home to many remarkable statues and works of art that are listed Historical Monuments, including the organ, paintings, sacristy furniture and one of the stalls.

Saint Roch Chapel
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Restored in 1997, the chapel houses some paintings by Chisa: on the walls are six paintings of the life of San Roccu and, suspended from the ceiling, twelve paintings depicting the life of Jesus and arranged in the shape of a cross.
Saint Roch was very popular in Corsica from the 14th to the 19th century. In Filicetu, the chapel dedicated to him was entrusted to the care of a hermit by the episcopal vicar of Ajaccio in 1865. In the chapel, one can see an 18th century statue of the saint made of cherry wood. In July, this statue is carried in procession to the church of St Nicolas and then brought back down at the end of August. On 16 August, the day of his feast, a procession goes around the village imploring his protection. As a sign of sharing, evoking the personality of the saint, blessed bread rolls are distributed at the end of the mass.

Eglise San Salvatore
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San Salvatore church was built in the 16th century to replace the pieve (parish church) of San Giovanni d'Olmi Cappella which was abandoned towards the end of the 15th century. The church houses some remarkable works. The main altar is dedicated to the Holy Saviour.

Le Monolithe de Mausoleo
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The current town hall adjoins San Salvadore church. It used to be the chapel of the Santa Croce friary which, having merged with the friaries of the three other villages of Ghjunsani, is now part of the new San Parteu friary of Pioggiola.

Eglise de la Santissima Annunziata
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Built in the 18th century, this is one of Corsica's finest examples of Baroque churches. It houses some listed works, including some 17th-century paintings, the main altar, and balustrades of Carrare marble. The gallery features an organ built by Tomaso Pagnini de Lucca.

Chapel of the Confraternity
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Built during the 18th century, it is one of the best achievements among Baroque churches in Corsica. It is home to some classified works, including some 17th-century paintings, the main altar and the balustrades of Carrare marble. The gallery features an organ built by Tomaso Pagnini de Lucca.

Eglise Saint Anoine de Padoue
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The hamlet of Poggiali is home to a small Baroque church which dates from the end of the 17th century.

San Ghjacumu Chapel
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The chapel of San Ghjacumu, Saint Jacques le Majeur, stands in the cemetery, a kilometre from the village. Built in 1110, it was in ruins before its reconstruction in 1635. It was restored in 1997 thanks to the generosity of Maria di Vincenza.

Chapelle Santu Petru di Nesce
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The ancient parish chapel, dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul, was built in the cemetery during the 9th century. Now in ruins, it has left its place to the tombs. Only the apse of the little Romanesque chapel still remains, worn by rainwater and seepage.
Here, a unique testimony in the iconography of frescoes in Corsica slowly fades away: the representation of a brotherhood of women, probably originally protected by the mantle of the Virgin in Majesty, in the centre of the apse and carrying on her knees the infant Jesus, of whom a pretty naked foot can still be seen. ... the women's faces are tense in prayer, the hands joined, the silhouettes drawn with a sure line and evoke a universe close to the small fresco of the chapel of Santa Restituda in Calenzana. In 1967 Mrs Geneviève Moracchini already sounded the alarm, and in 1985 Mr Joseph Orsolini wrote that run-off water and seepage were degrading the magnificent 15th century fresco. In 1646 this small chapel served as the parish church of the village of Nessa. It was classified as a historical monument in 1990 and nothing has been done to restore it and protect it from wind and rain.

Eglise paroissiale San Ghjiseppu
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The parish church of Saint Joseph is located in the heart of the village on Avenue Hui Bon Hoa, next to the old friary. It houses a number of classified works of art.

Eglise paroissiale de Santa Maria Assunta
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Formerly the church of the Assumption, it is now the parish church of Saint Bartholomew. It dates from the 2nd quarter of the 17th century. Rebuilt in 1620, then reworked in 1627, it features a 3-level Baroque bell tower with a small lantern.

Tombeau du sculpteur Maestracci
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The amazing tombstone of Damaso Maestracci, whose naive art reminds us of the work of Ferdinand Cheval, is located in the cemetery's north entrance. He was the creator of the War Memorial and also bedecked his own house with some imposing curiosities.

Former chapel of the brotherhood
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The recently-renovated Friary building is occupied by the Association Per l'Animazione d'Ochjatana. This ancient chapel boasts remarkable acoustics. During the summer season drinks can be purchased here.

Eglise Santa Maria Assunta
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Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, this church was built in the 13th century and reworked during the 16th. On 15 August, it hosts a performance of polyphonic hymns from the village by the cantor of the San Parteu friary. It used to be a pilgrimage venue for the entire Balagne region on 12 May, St Pancras day.

Holy Cross Chapel
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Sainte-Croix has become the chapel of the San Parteu friary. Until 1935, an Easter Monday procession took place from the chapel to the foot of Monte San Parteo in honour of St Parthée, the 5th-century saint who was popular in the Ghjunsani region.
It contains four remarkable works, classified as Historic Monuments, all of which are the property of the commune: a still life painting on canvas painted in oil, from the 18th century, which comes from the Fesch collection; brotherhood seats (stalls for the confreres) in carved wood, waxed, dated from the beginning of the 18th century; a statue of the procession of Christ on the Cross, dated from the 18th century, in polychrome wood; a statue of the Virgin Mary in Majesty from the 18th century, in gilded polychrome wood.

Sculpture de la Paix
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At an elevation of 1,100 metres, this sculpture represents mutual aid and solidarity, with five hands - the five continents - united for Peace. It was created by sculptors A-M Moretti, Andros, Dom, P. Pardon and M. Sabaty, on the basis of a drawing by a child, Arnaud Casanova.

Eglise Santa Catalina
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During the 12th century, the church was used by the inhabitants of Giustiniani. Located on the village square, it is the seat of the friary of Sant'Antone Abbate. It features a listed altar, an 18th-century tabernacle, and a silver reliquary on St Roch wood.

Collégiale Santa Maria Assunta
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The collegiate church is extremely old. The original Romanesque church was built in 1509. Its status of exceptional collegiate church was granted by Pope Benoit XIV on 6 December 1749, and confirmed by Pope Clement XIII on 6 May 1766. It was restored in 1970.
Its façade dates from 1509 and its Nicolas Filippi Way of the Cross from 1746. It contains a tabernacle with twisted columns, inlaid wood and varnish from the 18th century (listed), numerous paintings including "The Last Communion of a Holy King", oil on canvas from the 17th century (listed) and the shrine of the relics of San Vittoriu, a martyr from the end of the 3rd century. The church has a historic Crudeli organ (1810) and a gallery (1821) by Anto Giuseppe Saladini, born in Speloncato. It is the seat of the Oratory of the Confraternity of Santa Croce.

Former convent
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Built by the Capuchin monks in 1621, the convent was in ruins before being restored and converted into housing. It was made famous by a spring that supplied it with water from the Carignelli, an excellent cure for a number of ailments.

Chapel of the Holy Cross Brotherhood
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Adjoining the church, which was decorated by Italian artists, it is now a venue for contemporary art exhibitions. Near the church you'll find some monumental tombstones, including those of the Filippi, Taddei and Malaspina families. There are also some private chapels.

Eglise Sainte Simone
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The parish church of Saint Simon (San Simonu) is of Baroque style and dates from the 18th century. This vast structure features a 4-level bell tower with a clock and stands beyond the village on a spur, at an elevation of 300 metres.

Saint Roch Chapel
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The chapel of Saint-Roch (of San Roccu) is a small building located above and behind the Sainte-Croix friary chapel and the parish church.

Eglise Saint Nicolas
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Saint Nicholas church is of Baroque style. It was built towards the end of the 18th century, probably in replacement of a Romanesque chapel from the 16th century.

Muro
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Come explore this picturesque village on Corsica. Muro remains unspoilt, "close to everything yet set back a little". Sheltered amid lush green surroundings, Muro is a garden that clings to the mountainside below the Avazeri peak.

Feliceto
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Perched high in the foothills of the Montegrosso massif, cradled by the surrounding high peaks, Feliceto is a proud mountain village nestling in a little corner of the Reginu valley.

Nessa
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On Balagne's arts & crafts route, take the road to Nessa. This small village may not be the biggest tourist attraction, but it bathes in a lovely warm and friendly atmosphere.

Speloncato
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This has been a place of retreat for thousands of years. Some items of Neolithic furniture have been found here.

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Ville di Paraso
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Ville di Paraso and the four hamlets (Rustu, Olivacce, Querci and San Roccu) have been clinging for centuries to this rocky spur planted with majestic trees that are ages old.

Costa
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Balagne's smallest village has some pleasant surprises in store for you. Costa is a wonderful place, full of old stone houses, alleyways and arches. The only way to visit is on foot.
Next to the town hall, the Malaspina House, a beautiful residence built in the 17th century, overlooks one of these vaulted passages. Take your time in Piazza Cumuna. Stop in front of the church of San Salvatore and enter to admire its paintings, olive tree statues and beautiful organ.

And if you feel like quenching your thirst, push on to the 17th century washhouse where the water gushes out of the fountain with a purity equalled only by its freshness.

Occhiatana
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Succumb to the poetic charm of Occhiatana. Built on the Pinzu Sordu mountainside, this beautiful village offers a magical blend of tradition and modernity.

Pioggiola
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Discover the forces of nature in the heart of the Balagne mountains. Cool off in this small village in the shade of oak and chestnut trees. Pioggiola offers an alternative way to explore Balagne.

Mausoleo
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Enter the territory of the Parc Naturel Régional de Corse. Balagne offers you some of its treasures... A small village invites you to discover its curiosities. Between nature, history and myth, Mausoleo reveals its secrets.

Pont génois de Feliceto
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The village of Feliceto takes its name from the happiness of water. In fact, the village has many natural springs. With its rivers and waterfalls, Feliceto offers two Genoese bridges that allow the discovery of its heritage and pleasant moments of bathing depending on the season.

Rural heritagePont génois
Maison forestière de Tartagine
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Below the road leading to the forest and river of Tartagine, discover this old building built in the 19th century. Originally used as a forest house, the building is now a gîte d'étape offering accommodation and food on the banks of the Tartagine river. An obligatory and tasty stopover for hikers, runners and cyclists.

Rural heritage
San Parteu
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San Parteu is one of the mountain peaks of Balagne. It rises to an altitude of nearly 1680m between the Melaghja Valley and the Fiumi di Regino Valley. It dominates Feliceto on its north-western side and Pioggiola on the north-eastern side. It borders the north-western part of the Corsican Regional Natural Park. It is the subject of a procession in July in memory of the saint who is said to have blessed the Balagne in the 5th century. The San parteu also gave its name to the brotherhood of Ghjunsani.

Natural heritage
Forêt de Tartagine Melaghja
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Come inside the wonderful world of Ghjunsani and delve deep inside one of the most beautiful forests in Corsica. Located inland, the forest is overlooked by the impressive Monte Padro, the peak of which reaches over 2,300 metres.

It was once an essential resource for Ghjunsani due to the diversity of wood species here, the sheer wealth of possibilities for hunting or foraging and the impressive open-spaces for sheep farmers. It is an ideal place for mountain grazing in the summer months.

Thanks to the diversity of Corsican pine trees, holm oak and holly, juniper and tree heath, the forest of Tartaghjine Melaghja (Tartagine Melaja) has managed to obtain the protection of Natural zone of ecological interest, fauna and flora (ZNIEFF in French), to ensure that these fragile species are protected. Holm oak and juniper are now protected species in a Natura 2000 area and recognised as wildlife habitats, sheltering the spotted salamander for example. Along your way, you will discover ash trees, birch trees, not to mention a large number of plant species such as Tartagine holly and foxglove.

A multitude of species have chosen to shelter in this heavenly place. Look around and you may catch a glimpse of a bearded vulture, golden eagle, the more discreet mouflon, the Northern goshawk, the Corsican nuthatch and the Corsican deer.

Forest
Pont de Forcili
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The Genoese and Pisan bridges are stone buildings, characterised by a humpback, a single arch and a narrow deck. They were built from the 12th century to the 18th century. However, it was especially in the 15th century that the Genoese administration decided to multiply them in order to revive the island's economy and to favour exchanges between isolated communities. Do not miss the aria (threshing floor).

Rural heritagePont génois
The villages of Balagne ...Zilia
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The pureness of the water and the personality of the wines... Zilia is famous for its vineyards and spring water.
Crouching at the foot of the Montegrosse, surrounded by olive and almond groves, this village of 14 km² has retained its traditional architecture.
Zilia was once known for the benefits of the "Dirza" thermal spring, radioactive table water, eminently digestive and diuretic, whose use was abandoned in 1914.

At the time of the Roman occupation, a village of 800 souls was established at a place called Poffiume (Podium Fluminis: area of ??the river). It was gradually abandoned by its inhabitants who settled in the hamlets of Zilia and Giarghja.

The village of Zilia is located at an altitude of 278 m, at the foot of the Monte Grosso massif and offers a panoramic view of the green valley of Fiume Seccu. Well grouped around its bell tower, it is currently developing in the lower part, on the remains of the original village.

The former Franciscan convent, located on the road to Calenzana, above the Domaine Alzipratu, for a long time kept a beautiful library which Pascal Paoli frequented.

This high place of the spiritual life of the country was ruined by the revolution and then restored.
It was once owned by Baron De La Grange before being bought by the Agnelli family.

Today, the Alzipratu estate, and a mineral spring, exploited since 1995, which sells all over the island, under the name of Zilia, bottles of bicarbonate and low mineral water, contribute to its fame.

Village where life is good, Zilia offers a panoramic view of the green valley of Fiume Secco.

Sights...

In Ghjesgia San Roccu: The St Roch church, in baroque style, completed in 1688 and then extended in the 19th century. Its high polychrome marble altar comes from the Alzipratu convent. He is celebrated on August 16.

The Chapel of Saint François.

The San Lussoriu Chapel dedicated to the Sardinian martyr of the third century AD. This saint beheaded under Diocletian is celebrated on August 21.

The Zilia Water Works Plant (by reservation only).

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The villages of Balagne ...Avapessa
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Thriving soils and olive fragrances... Witnesses of a fertile land where oil farmers and herdsmen perpetuate the delightful tastes and traditions of Balagne.
Occupying a fertile territory of 330 ha, formerly called "acqua spessa" and known for its important agricultural activity, the municipality of about 80 souls extends from the plain of Reginu to the heights of Capu di Bestia, culminating at 804 meters. altitude.

Around 1850, the town had 300 inhabitants, the smallest plots being planted with cereals, vines, orchards, mulberry trees and chestnut trees, each family having its own garden and especially more than 50 hectares of olive trees, mostly dating from the 18th century.

Breeding, mainly sheep, held an important place.
If agriculture has declined as it has everywhere, olive growing has held up well (even today the village is renowned for the quality of its olive oil) and shepherds still have some 700 sheep and 150 cattle.

Identity mark of the village, the bell tower of the baroque Sainte-Marie church dominates the roof of particularly neat houses. The other chapel and the defensive tower have disappeared to cede their stones to the construction of houses and the wine press.

Sights...

Church of Saint Mary: Built in 1618 with some of the stone from the ancient church of Santa Maria Assunta, which has since disappeared. The rest of the stone was used to build a wine press. This Baroque church features a square multi-level bell tower and is home to the San Carlu friary.

Saint Michael's Chapel

Oil mill

Fruit gardens

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The villages of Balagne ... Sant'Antonino
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Perched high on a hill and surrounded by the riches of Balagne, this village, one of the oldest in Corsica, must be the finest example of Corsican medieval architecture. Sant'Antonino is officially rated among the most beautiful villages in France.
Built in the 9th century and located at 500 m. altitude and thanks to its eagle-nest construction, it overlooks and observes the whole of Balagne in 360 °.

You just have to walk through its narrow and stony streets, its network of galleries and vaulted passages, all forming a downward spiral from the top of the rocky outcrop on which it was built, to appreciate the preservation of this jewel.

Its medieval architecture and its narrow streets paved with very old stones have contributed to its classification among the most beautiful villages in France.

Overlooking the sea, this "fortress" in the shape of an eagle's nest was built in the 9th century; it dominates the whole of Balagne and observes it at 360 °.

It is made up of around 75 residences, welded to each other, and which wrap around a granite peak forming an embryo of a labyrinth to better resist the possible invader.

Due to its position, it is said to be visible from all sides in Balagne. Founded by Ugo Colonna in the 9th century, its establishment at the top of the hill made it possible to take refuge and defend itself there during the Moorish invasions.

Sights...

The 17th-century A Nunziata parish church and multi-level bell tower.

Chapel of the Saint Antoine Friary, built between 1760 and 1770.

Ancient bread furnace.

Vestiges of the old Castellu fortifications.

Notre Dame des Bergers chapel.

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Avapessa Fruit Botanical Garden
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An experimental botanical garden but also a fruit variety collection of a diversity that makes it unique in France, as do the entirely natural growing methods, free from chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Well worth a visit for advice from the head gardener.
Discovering the Avapessa Botanical Fruit Garden means entering a remarkable collection of more than 40 kinds of edible fruits with many rare varieties from all over the world.

This collection is the result of many years of passionate research. The climate of Balagne and that of Avapessa, allows these fruit trees to flourish naturally.

Born of gluttony, passion and research have taken over for the management of this garden. It pays homage to the ancients and traditional culture while respecting nature and its biodiversity. The acclimatizations of this garden are also intended to anticipate the harmful effects of the ongoing climate change.

The Avapessa Botanical Fruit Garden offers guided tours, courses on fruit preservation methods as well as training on this method of cultivation.

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San Lussoriu Chapel
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The Chapel is dedicated to San Lussoriu, the Sardinian martyr of the third century AD. It is now in ruins but still very much visible in Zilia cemetery.
This construction was a main place of worship since we find, below
of the church, the toponym "Trufuna" which refers to the rite of Holy Week.

It is dedicated to San Lussoriu, Sardinian martyr of the third century AD. This saint beheaded under Diocletian is celebrated on August 21. One hypothesis locates this fifteen-meter-long chapel on the site of a pre-Romanesque building from the 7th century. Dating from around the end of the 10th century, its construction was made with stones from previous buildings.

Several times modified, it was abandoned as a parish church in the 17th century.

The mass grave ("the arca") will be used until the beginning of the 20th century. A statue of San Lussoriu can still be seen inside the Church of San Roccu.

Saint Roch Church of Zilia
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Zilia church can be found in the heart of the village. It is dedicated to Saint Roch, or San Roccu, a highly venerated saint in Balagne.
The Baroque-style St Roch church was completed in 1688 and then extended in the 19th century. A municipal decree dated 1651 reflects the decision to build it.

Its high polychrome marble altar comes from the Alzipratu convent. He was
recovered by the inhabitants, in the 18th century as well as the statue of Saint
François dei maleficii and the statue of San Bonavintura.

San Roccu treated plague victims, his cult developed in the 15th century following terrible plague epidemics.

Santa Maria Church
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The church was built in 1618 with some of the stone from the old church of Santa Maria Assunta, which has since disappeared.
The other part of its stones from the old church of Santa Maria Assunta were used to build a wine press. With a square, multi-storey bell tower, this Baroque church is also home to the San Carlu brotherhood.

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Sainte Lucie - Notre Dame des Anges Church
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Notre Dame des Anges is a Baroque church dating from the 17th century. It features a double pediment and its layout is in the form of a Greek cross.
Its high baroque facade known as the “harmonic facade” has a dome illuminating the nave and an apsidal bell tower with arcades unique in Corsica.

It contains two paintings from the XVIIth century "The Virgin and Child with Saint Lucia and a Bishop" and "The Assumption of the Virgin with Saint Servant, Saint Quilicus, Saint Catherine and two other martyrs", both classified in 2004.

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San Cesariu Chapel
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San Cesariu chapel was built in the 12th century on a hillock on the mountain crest between the Reginu valley and the Aregno plain.
This Romanesque chapel was modified in the 17th century, the frame was replaced by a vault which required the installation of buttresses capable of withstanding the thrust. This small Romanesque chapel is not classified.

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San Francè Chapel
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The chapel of Saint François, San Francè in Corsica, is dedicated to the saint born in Calabria in Paola around 1416, died in Plésis les Tours in 1508 and canonized in 1519. Founder of the order of the minims (minori), he is the patron saint of sailors in some localities.
It is celebrated on April 2; that day he was carried in procession to the village church, San Roccu, and remained there until Pentecost Monday.
Oriented N 27º E (frequent orientation of buildings from the Roman period), the chapel may have covered a pagan building.

Its presence is attested from the 18th century. Simple in design, with a main door and a side door, it contains an altar reminiscent of the Baroque style with trompe l'oeil columns.

A legend is linked to the presence of this religious building: halfway along the path leading from the chapel towards the river, a stone on the ground with three small cavities which perfectly correspond to the position of the thumb, the index finger and the middle finger of a man's hand.

It is said that Saint François, visiting the region, went up to the village of Puffiume (current Saint François district, or Alivetu Cumunu, which was a village in its own right in the 15th century, abandoned in the 18th century).

A battle was then raging there with i mori (Barbarians) and blood flowed freely. Saint Francis put his fingers on the said stone in order to stop the massacre; in gratitude the villagers consecrated this chapel to him.

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