Overlooking the magnificent Gulf of Lava, the villages of Alata and Villanova nestle between the sea and the mountains...
From Ajaccio, take the departmental road 61 for about twenty minutes to reach the centre of the village of Alata. Then you will go back down to the main road to reach Villanova...
ALATA
The village of Alata has the particularity of having two access roads. One on its western side (RD61 - Route d'Alata) and the other on its eastern side (RD81 - Route de Calvi).
The commune of Alata has been organised along natural axes and according to the points of historical implantation: in a dominant position for the village or near the forage plains and water points.
It is the birthplace of Charles-André Pozzo-di-Borgo, a close associate of Pasquale Paoli. At first a friend of Bonaparte, he eventually became his enemy.
Like most villages in the Ajaccio hinterland, it is divided into hamlets:
East side
- The Pruno [U Prunu]
- Cardiglione
- San Benedetto/ San Benedettu
Western slope
- Le Picchio [U Pichju].
- Pietrosella [A Pitrusedda]
- Tuscia [A Tuschia]
- Trova [A Trova]
- Ranucchietto [U Ranuchjetu]
THE CHURCHES
The commune of Alata has two parish churches: that of San Benedetto and the church of St Peter.
THE CASTLE OF LA PUNTA
This building, built at the end of the 18th century from stones from the Tuileries Palace, was originally the property of the Pozzo-di-Borgo family. Today, the castle belongs to the Territorial Collectivity of Corsica, which plans to renovate it and make it accessible to the public again.
Since a fire in 1978, the building, classified as a historical monument, is no longer open to the public.
VILLANOVA
The village
Bordered by the communes of Alata and Ajaccio, the village of Villanova is divided into 4 hamlets. The vestiges found and the rock shelters(i taffoni) testify to the existence of the village since Antiquity.
Villanova is known for being a village of artists; they organise a festival every summer I Statinali di Villanova.
The church
The church is recognisable by its detached campanile. It was renovated by the painter Mario Sépulcre, one of the artists of the village.
A village of resistance fighters
During the Second World War, many Corsicans joined the resistance. The submarine Casabianca, which played a decisive role in the liberation of the island, landed weapons in Villanova. Its inhabitants went to recover them on donkeys and mules.
Take advantage of being a stone's throw from the beautiful beaches of the Gulf of Lava to take a break in a sumptuous setting...
And to stretch your legs, the Bomba trail, starting from Villanova, will take you on a loop through the "plain".
NB: You can find this itinerary in our topo guide Walks and hikes in the Ajaccio region available in our shop.