Poggio d'Oletta
Presentation
In the heart of the maquis, a village of stone and memory
In the heart of the village, traditional buildings stand around the Church of San Cervone and the Oratory of Santa Croce, with the iconic limestone ridges of Silva Mala and Sant'Anghjulu as a backdrop. The Romanesque Chapel of San Quilicu illustrates the richness of the built heritage, with its ruins emerging from the scrubland, not far from the vineyards. The small vernacular agricultural heritage is evident in the dry stone walls and dozens of pagliaghji (haystacks) found throughout the municipality.
A bit of history
U Poghju d'Oletta: a territory shaped by history
From Neolithic origins to the Roman presence
Numerous archaeological remains (Scaffa Piana shelters) attest to human occupation since the Middle Neolithic period (3400 BC), with diverse agricultural activities: livestock farming (pigs, sheep), crafts (fossilised rush basketry with remains of grains and olive pits, ceramics, tools), etc.
Numerous remains also seem to attest to a significant Roman presence.
U Poghju d'Oletta: a village through the centuries
Religious growth and territorial structuring (7th–9th centuries)
In 595, Gregory I created the bishopric of Nebbiu. From the 7th century onwards, numerous chapels were built, particularly in the plains of the municipality of U Poghju d'Oletta: San Vittoriu, San Quilicu, San Petru, San Bernardinu, San Ghjuvanni and San Parteu.
The Pisan lordships and influences (9th–13th centuries)
In the 9th century, after the Saracen raids that ravaged the region, noble families from Tuscany, encouraged by the Republic of Pisa, settled in north-eastern Corsica.
They developed castelli from the 11th and 12th centuries onwards, relying on notable families and merchants such as the Bagnia, and maintained territorial conflicts with neighbouring pievi (Ortu, A Marana and Custere) until the 13th century.
Between Pisa and Genoa: the influence of religious institutions (11th–18th centuries)
In 1091, the bishopric of Nebbiu was under the authority of the archbishopric of Pisa. In 1133, Pope Innocent II transferred the diocese of Nebbiu to Genoa.
Numerous charters attest to donations of land and chapels in the area to the monastery of La Gorgone in the 14th century, then to the Certosa di Calci in the 18th century.
After the Revolution, many of these properties were sold by the Chartreuse to prominent families and landowners in the region (the Piazza, Cardi, Potentini, Gentile families, etc.).
A prosperous agricultural economy (17th–19th centuries)
At the end of the 17th century, the municipality had around 200 inhabitants. The population grew: 290 souls in 1729, 373 in 1787.
Since ancient times, the municipality has been cultivated with cereals, vines, olive trees and chestnut trees. Livestock farming also plays an important role, with summer grazing areas and specific buildings.
Buildings linked to the processing of agricultural produce (mills, wine presses, wine cellars) developed particularly in the 19th century. There are numerous mills in the municipality, powered by abundant watercourses.
From the decline of cereal crops to the predominance of vines (19th–20th centuries)
At the beginning of the 20th century, vineyards expanded at the expense of cereal crops, which disappeared at the end of the 19th century.
The population grew rapidly in the 19th century (378 inhabitants in 1806, 540 in 1876), before gradually declining (334 in 1911, 223 in 1946).
(Sources: ISTRIA Daniel, Powers and Fortifications in Northern Corsica, 11th–14th Centuries; SILVANI Paul, Corsica in the Time of Paoli. Albiana; Poggio d'Oletta Town Hall.)
An exceptional rural and religious heritage
Fountain known as Monticello
19th and 20th centuries
Fountain located under a semicircular arch. Water outlet surrounded by two stone benches along the walls. This central section is surrounded by two side niches.
The Chapel of the Confraternity of Santa Croce
Built in 1666 on a Latin cross plan – Listed Historic Monument
It is located below the hamlet of Olivacce, a few metres from the parish church of San Cervone. It is the headquarters of the Confraternity of Santa Croce, dressed in white. The Holy Cross was celebrated there on 3 May, Saint Michael the Archangel on 29 September and Saint Roch with the blessing of the flocks on 16 August.
Parish Church of Saint Cervone, known as San Cervone
11th century
The Church of San Cervone (bishop of Populonia around 575) dates back to the 11th century. Remains from this period can be seen in the bell tower. This sanctuary and its properties (numerous plots of land) belonged to the Carthusian monastery of Gorgone and then to Calci between the 14th century and the Revolution. Following the earthquake of 1888, the church was damaged. Count Piazza, mayor of Poggio d'Oletta and general councillor, made a donation of 25,000 francs, which enabled the church to be restored and enlarged. The apse of the choir, the high altar, the balustrade and the baptistery were created. The frescoes were painted.
(Private archives, A.D. Corse du Sud series V., A.D. Haute Corse series O., Early abbeys and monuments of the High Middle Ages in Corsica, The Church of San Cerbone, in Poggio d'Oletta Cahiers Corsica 136-137 G. Moracchini-Mazel)
Water supply system
19th century
Water supply tunnel approximately thirty metres long, closed with a gate. Height: 1.5 metres. Covered with slate slabs. Basin at the tunnel exit. It was used to supply water to nearby land. There are around a dozen tunnels of this type in the surrounding area.
Fence wall of the Cipette farm
18th century
This wall is remarkable for its width, approximately 1.5 metres. It is built of schist rubble stone and rises to a height of approximately 2 metres. It separates the Cipette farm property from the road leading to Saint Florent.
Flour mill known as the Guado mill
Mid-18th century
A masonry flume carries water from the Guado stream to the masonry penstock, which is about ten metres high. The mill must have been equipped with a horizontal wheel located on the first floor of the basket-handle vaulted basement; some wooden parts (axles, etc.) of the mechanism can still be seen. The main entrance door is topped by a basket-handle arch. Two other openings pierce this elevation. Inside are the two millstones.
Mill known as the Gargalo Mill
1817
A masonry millrace carried water from the Guado stream to a reservoir built above the mill and to a masonry penstock. The mill was also equipped with a horizontal wheel located on the first floor of the basement. According to the archives, the mill was built in 1817 by Noël Salicetti to serve as a wheat mill. It was converted in 1825 into a mill for producing lamp oil (oil from olive pits used for lighting) by Messrs Salicetti and Alessandrini. Today it is used as a dwelling. (A.D. Corse du Sud, series S)
Flour mill known as the Olivacce mill
1798
A masonry flume carries water from the Guado stream to a reservoir built above the mill and to a 7- or 8-metre-high masonry penstock. The walls are partially plastered, and there are a few niches that may have been used as apiaries.
Notable residence known as the Casatico House
Middle Ages
The house is partly built of cipolin masonry and partly of schist. Some of the stones are cut. The bays are topped with monolithic lintels. Inside, there are niches covered with stone lintels. Part of the schist roof remains.
Bishop's house known as casa à u vescu
Middle Ages
Located on the road leading to Bastia, now converted into a «panoramic balcony trail», only the walls of the bishop's house remain. It is built of coated schist masonry. The entrance door is topped by a double monolithic lintel. Stone sink and niches. Carefully crafted. It seems that this house was the second home of the bishops of Nebbiu, who could not stay around Saint Florent in the summer due to poor sanitary conditions (malaria). Next to the house was a chapel dedicated to Saint John, but according to oral tradition, the bishop would go down to the San Quilicu chapel on Sundays to celebrate Mass.
Maria Gentile's house
16th or 17th century
Remains. Schist masonry. Remains of an arch. It is said to have sheltered Maria Gentile. Maria Gentile's fiancé was sentenced to be broken on the wheel in front of the convent of Oletta in September 1769 and his body displayed. Defying the ban, Maria Gentile is said to have removed him from the wheel to bury him, thus becoming a symbol, the Corsican Antigone.
Chapel of Saint Victor, known as San Vittorio di Gregogna
6th or 7th century
Only the ruins of the San Vittorio chapel remain. It has an elongated layout with a semi-circular apse covered by a cul-de-four vault made of small square limestone blocks. The chapel and the surrounding fertile land were managed by the Benedictine monks of Gorgone and then by the Carthusians of Calci (until the 18th century, when they sold their possessions to prominent families in the municipality). It is listed as an annex of San Cervone. It was later used as a farm shed.
(Corsica Sacra G. Moracchini-Mazel, Early Abbeys and Monuments of the High Middle Ages in Corsica, Corsica Notebooks 136-137 G. Moracchini-Mazel)
Chapel of Saint Peter, known as San Petru di Mozenzana
7th century
The San Petru di Mozenzana chapel has an elongated layout ending in a semi-circular apse. The masonry is made of square-cut stones and ashlars (apse arch). A slit window pierces the apse wall. It is surmounted by a limestone archivolt. On the vault of the apse, you can see the remains of polychrome frescoes. An openwork cross pierces the pediment of the rear elevation. A wall levelling course is aligned with the chapel.
Saint Cervone Fountain, known as Funtana San Cervone
18th century
Located on the communal footpath (now called «Chjassu Maria Gentile») that branches off from the district road. Water outlet topped with a semi-circular arch. Two stone benches on either side. Plastered arch and walls. Elongated wash house made of plastered rubble stone. The wash house dates from 1895. It was used by the inhabitants of the hamlet of Olivacce until the 1970s.