Sant'antonino

Classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, Sant'Antonino is the oldest village in Corsica and one of the most spectacular sites in the Balagne region. Perched like an eagle's nest at nearly 500 meters altitude on a granite outcrop, this circular village was founded in the 9th century by a Roman count to protect himself from Moorish invasions. A veritable natural fortress, it offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Aregno plain on one side and the Gulf of Calvi on the other. The village is a maze of narrow streets, vaulted passageways, and stone houses that seem welded to the rock, creating a perfect mineral harmony where time seems to have stood still. Here, no cars circulate: exploration is done exclusively on foot, at the pace of the donkeys that once transported the harvests. Wandering through this medieval labyrinth, you'll discover ancient bread ovens, oil presses carved into the rock, and the Church of the Annunciation. The website chateaux-en-france.com also recommends paying particular attention to the remains of the old medieval castle at the summit, which testify to the strategic military importance of this promontory during the centuries of struggle between local lords and invaders. Sant'Antonino is not just a relic of the past; it's also a vibrant region, renowned for its crafts and the lemon and olive groves that stretch out at its feet.