I’ve often seen them – the small villages that rise so beautifully in the mountains. I’ve also often driven through them on the way to another exciting destination. This time, though, we headed for one of them – a little village we had pinpointed on the map. It was only 20 minutes from where we were staying… it was a place we simply had to experience.
From the coast, it looks as if the only way to reach the villages is to take a side road and drive upwards – at a slope that seems nearly vertical. So it wasn’t without a flutter of excitement that I joined the boys on today’s adventure. In reality, the journey turned out a bit differently.
From the coast toward the mountains, near the Bravone area, there’s a long stretch of flat, cultivated landscape. Here, you pass small rustic houses and farms growing wine, olives, citrus, and kiwi fruits. Very lush. Very beautiful.
Small side roads branch off from the main road, and if you follow them, they’ll lead you to other small villages or gently zigzag you up into the mountains.
Without realizing it, you find yourself high above, with one view after another unfolding before you – over the Bravone area (toward the coast) and toward the mountains and the small villages. The turns are small, and the inclines are so gentle you hardly notice them.
Our route led us to one of the oldest towns in Corsica, 400 meters above sea level – Chiatra.
Quiet, beautiful, and extremely warm Chiatra
As soon as you drive into Chiatra and park by the church, you’ll (almost certainly) feel the urge to go to the first spot where you can take in the landscape. That’s exactly what we did. Right away.
We stood on a mountaintop, looking out over the most beautiful mountain landscape, covered with trees and Corsican maquis. At the foot of the mountains, the most stunning lake sparkled with the greenest water—Alesani Lake.
We later found out that many people hike in this area, with many starting and ending their journey in Chiatra. We ourselves had planned to hike the next day to experience the beautiful lake up close, but Sebastian fell ill, so we postponed the adventure until the next time we’re in Corsica.
The town of Chiatra is small, with only 206 inhabitants. It goes without saying that such a small town, nestled in the mountains, offers great views from nearly every angle. No matter which direction we looked, there was something beautiful to rest our eyes on.
Chiatra is one of Corsica’s oldest towns, and this is clearly visible in its buildings. Some have been restored, while others look so fragile that it’s hard to imagine how anyone could live in them. However, a search at home (on Airbnb.com) revealed a rental in one of these very old houses, and it looked not only cozy inside but also comfortable and nicely up-to-date.
Chiatra is beautiful, with its ancient decay mixed with exquisite, sublime details, an abundance of flowers, and a stillness we rarely find in Denmark. A stillness where you hear nature and a faint rustling from the houses, their windows left open in the midst of siesta.
We promise ourselves this every time. We promise not to go exploring in the midday heat. It’s too hot. Yet somehow, we always end up right in the middle of it, or in the late afternoon, when it’s at its absolute hottest. Luckily, the town has a few cafés and some wells with clear, ice-cold water where you can cool off. The latter was exactly what Sebastian chose to do.
After experiencing the town, we headed back down toward the coast. On the way down the mountain, we first encountered a few cows ambling along the roads, and after passing them, we came across a couple of Corsican wild boars, sleepy in the afternoon sun. One got up and waddled over to greet us, while the rest just raised their eyebrows.
It doesn’t get much more Corsican than that…
