Visiting Pigna: Must-sees

While some small Corsican villages have fallen into oblivion, this is not at all the case for Pigna, one of the most beautiful on the island of beauty. Restored to its former glory, Pigna is now home to many artists and craftspeople. What to do in Pigna What to see in Pigna Here are a few suggestions for discovering this beautiful pedestrian village.

A brief history of Pigna

Knowing its history will help you discover and appreciate Pigna even more.

A tower named Pigna was erected by Lieutenant Consalvo in 862, in homage to his native district of Rome, which bears the same name. This lieutenant was under the command of Count Guido Savelli, whose mission was to liberate Corsica from the Saracens. The village of Pigna was built around the tower and today has a population of around one hundred. This population strives to preserve the authenticity and originality of the place.

The houses are characterised by their integrated architecture and blue shutters. Pigna is also an artistic village. Crafts and music are omnipresent. Pigna is also entirely pedestrianised. You'll need to leave your car in the car parks set up outside the village.

What to see in Pigna

How do you discover Pigna and start somewhere other than the town square? The square is opposite the parish church of the Immaculate Conception. It features four pilasters and two domed bell towers above its façade. Visit the interior to discover the beautiful fresco in the apse, painted in 1971 by Toni Casalonga. The naïve marble statuette of the Virgin is also listed in the heritage register for its originality.

After visiting the church, take the path to the right for a tour of the village. Let yourself be carried away by the cobbled streets and admire the old houses, built in a traditional style and featuring the blue shutters. You'll come across craftsmen's workshops where painters, sculptors, musicians, engravers and luthiers practise their art. This village is a meeting place for culture and creativity.

The two squares, Piazza a l'Olmu and Piazzarella, are also not to be missed. They offer a magnificent view of the sea, and are extremely charming.

What to do in Pigna

What to do in Pigna after the few visits recommended above? Visit the Museu Musica, a research centre dedicated to musical culture past and present. It houses an instrumentarium dedicated to Corsica and other countries. There is also an audiovisual broadcasting area.

In summer, be sure to include in your activities in Pigna the festivals and musical reviews held in the auditorium. This is located next to the village church. The building is a modest earthen structure, but the auditorium has a capacity of 120. Its acoustics and scenography are simply breathtaking.

You can also stop off at A Vaccaghja, a former cattle pen that is now a 220-seat amphitheatre. Numerous shows are held here in summer, particularly Festivoce, one of Pigna's major cultural events. Vestivoce is held every year in July.

Discover the area around Pigna

Don't just discover Pigna, because the surrounding area is also well worth a visit.

For example, you could visit all the hilltop villages in the Balagne region. If you're short of time, at least visit Corbara and Sant'Antonino to immerse yourself in a typically Corsican atmosphere.

And why not go hiking to discover the area around Pigna? The paths to take depend on the areas to be explored, the level of the hikers and the time you have to devote to the activity.