Furiani brings together religious heritage, traces of the former castle and an extensive lagoon landscape. These themes can be explored at specific places: chapels and a tower, hiking destinations, and the natural environment of the Étang de Biguglia.
Chapels and tower: Furiani’s architectural history
The Chapelle Santa-Maria-Assunta was classified as a historic monument by decree on 16 October 1992. Fragments of 15th-century frescoes depicting saints have been preserved in its apse. The chapel appears to have been built in two phases. The frescoes and the building’s history thus offer different insights into the structure.
The parish church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste is located in the Orticcione district, in the upper village. Santa Maria was Furiani’s Pieve chapel, as the village formed the centre of the Pieve d’Orto. These connections add further aspects of Furiani’s religious history to the frescoes and construction phases.
Tour Paoline is the surviving remnant of Furiani’s former castle. Pascal Paoli completely rebuilt it after 1763. In the history of the village, sacred architecture and the memory of the castle thus stand alongside one another as distinct themes.
Lagoon, protected landscape and Fortin
Furiani shares the protected natural area of the Étang de Biguglia with Biguglia, Borgo and Lucciana. The Étang is known for its ornithological significance. At 1,450 hectares, the Biguglia Lagoon is the largest lagoon in Corsica. The Rives de l’Étang de Biguglia area includes reed beds, maquis and sand dunes on the Marana Lido, bringing together a variety of landscapes.
The lagoon has two islands: Île des Pêcheurs lies to the northwest, where the Fortin de Biguglia was built; Île San Damiano lies in the middle of the lagoon. The Écomusée du Fortin, on Route de l’étang in Furiani, covers the history of the lagoon as well as topics such as fauna and flora, migration, fishing and wetlands. As of 23 August 2026, the museum was closed to the public indefinitely. Check its status again before visiting.
Hiking destinations, water activities and seasonal offerings
The hike to the Santa-Maria chapel begins in Furiani’s upper village. Another destination is the Chapelle Sant’Antone: the path there leads to a spring beneath chestnut trees. The routes described therefore differ in their destination—one leads to a chapel, the other to a spring and chestnut trees.
On the Marana Lido in Furiani, Club Nautique Bastiais offers water activities from Tombulu Biancu beach. Stand-up paddleboards, pedal boats, kayaks, windsurfing boards, dinghies and catamarans are available for hire. The options thus include various types of boards and boats; you can choose according to your preferred activity.
Brasserie Pietra is also part of local history: it opened in Furiani in 1996 and produced a Corsican beer made from a blend of malt and Corsican chestnut flour. The brewery offers tours and tastings in July and August. As seasonal arrangements can change, check the dates before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Figareto, Pietracorbara, Manso, Galeria, Saliceto, Tallone, Santa-Lucia-Di-Moriani, Occhiatana.
For the broader travel guide: Haute-Corse.
