on remembering a visit to pigna

Once again I found myself in a small village perched above the Mediterranean Sea on Corsica. I had spent the previous day exploring Sant’Antonino, a village beyond Pigna. The road to Pigna and  to Sant’Antonino is the same.

Like the other villages above the western coast of Corsica, Pigna has extraordinary views, not as many as Sant’Antonino, but still plenty for pauses and certainly for some sips of wine.

Visiting Sant’Antonino and Pigna in one day is possible. I can imagine a morning in one, let’s say first in Pigna with a lunch at A Mandria di Pigna, and if the wine has not been too precious during lunch, a visit further along to Sant’Antonino in the afternoon would be an excellent trip.

Above Pigna on the road that goes further along to Sant’Antonino, there is a place to park and one can walk a short distance to the village. Most visitors will, however, choose the parking lot in Pigna and pay a small tariff for the privilege.  (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Cliquez sur une vignette pour l’agrandir.)

What I saw in an instant, after walking up from the parking lot, bright blue against the sun orange of the buildings, was a vintage Citroën, nestled into a convenient parking spot and protected somewhat.  (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Cliquez sur une vignette pour l’agrandir.)

The village is above and its streets wind their way like other medieval villages in a serpentine way to no destination. They meet after awhile in the main square where you began.  (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Cliquez sur une vignette pour l’agrandir.)

An enclosure, not far from the parking lot, was once used to confine animals, but now is used for concerts and theater productions. Lighting and sound installations and steps leading into the enclosure provide a rustic space for spectators to experience an event.  (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Cliquez sur une vignette pour l’agrandir.)

I was charmed by two cafes: A Casarella which was situated down among some entangled branches and, next to it but slightly above, Cantina A Moresca.  (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Cliquez sur une vignette pour l’agrandir.)

The French might say about the former: « Un petit café, bien caché dans les ruelles de ce village mythique, une terrasse, toute simple, voilà une adresse de premier choix pour les couchers de soleil sur la plage d’Algajola en contrebas. »

Both serve light lunches. I was enchanted by the outside of each when I walked by in the morning and made a point of returning during the day for une pause and un café. At A Caserella I found a sweet spot at the end of a long pillowed bench where I could appreciate the valley below.

Like most perched villages, one will find small plazas in Pigna. One in particular offered a panoramic view of the western coast. Each is dominated by a tree that provides shade and shadow.  (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail. Cliquez sur une vignette pour l’agrandir.)