Castellare-Di-Casinca brings together a fortified village centre, a Romanesque phase of the Church of Saint-Pancrace and cultural-historical destinations. These offer different points of interest for planning your trip: village architecture, ecclesiastical heritage and the landscape of Casinca.
Between the Coast and the Foothills
The municipality stretches from the sandy coastal strip to the schist-bearing foothills of the middle mountains of Castagniccia. The municipal beach of L'Anghjone is seven kilometres below the municipality. The area description therefore brings together different landscape settings: the coastal strip, the middle mountain region and the historic village. If you would like to include the beach in your plans, you can consider it as a separate destination alongside the village centre.
A Fortified Village Centre
The original village centre consists of a belt of fortified houses, overlooked by a seigneurial tower thought to have been built in the 13th century. Narrow lanes paved with local stone and houses built of irregular stone define the medieval village centre; their roofs are made of lauze limestone slabs. Numerous fountains and other water points lie among the lanes. The historic village scene is therefore shaped not only by individual buildings, but also by its streets and water points.
Saint-Pancrace and Its Building History
The Church of Saint-Pancrace is protected as a historic monument. Its first building phase is Romanesque; construction probably began in the 11th century and was completed in stages during the 12th century. A bay with a round-arched arcade is supported by two pentagonal piers. This connects the dating of the first phase with a specific feature of the building's design.
Visual art adds to the village's architectural themes: the Ferrara Art Gallery provides a place for artistic encounters in painting and sculpture.
Routes to Different Historical Destinations
A cultural hiking route connects Penta-di-Casinca, which is classified as a village, with the Church of Saint-Pancrace in Castellare-Di-Casinca. It also reaches the ruins of the Church of Sant'Andrea, which extend across Penta-di-Casinca and Castellare-Di-Casinca. The Copolane route leads to San Tomè, a former agricultural plateau that marks the boundary between the municipalities of Penta and Castellare.
The destinations mentioned offer different points of focus: the cultural hiking route links a church with church ruins, while the Copolane route leads to a former agricultural plateau on the municipal boundary. If you are choosing based on historical interest, sacred buildings and the area's former agricultural character are distinct topics to explore.
The Fiera di San Branca in Casinca
In May, Casinca hosts the Fiera di San Branca, a very old traditional Corsican fair. Activities include demonstrations of shearing, animal care and handling, competitions featuring Corsican rams, and equestrian skill competitions. The fair also includes a market for agricultural produce. It thus brings together farm products, animal husbandry and equestrian skill. If you plan your trip around the Fiera, check the dates for that year's event in advance.
Discover more destinations: Calvi, Occhiatana, Casamaccioli, Meria, Tox, Ortiporio, Poggio-Mezzana, Ogliastro.
For the broader travel overview: Haute-Corse.
