Itinerary through Corsica | Page 8

Cabins
inhabited by the herdsmen are scattered over the declivities of the
mountain up to within 3000 feet of the top. Time 2 days. Guide with
mule 25 frs. Ascend by the road up the picturesque valley of the
Restonico to the Timozzo bridge, 3590 feet, and 2½ hours from Corté.
From this the path extends 1½ hour up the wild ravine of the Timozzo
to the shepherds' huts; whence the rest must be done on foot. Now the
hard work commences. Block lies above block, towering upwards and
upwards in such endless masses of monotonous gray that the heart
quails with the sight and the foot trembles to go farther. After about 2
hours' scramble over these colossal steps the traveller reaches the
fontaine de Triggione, about 2200 feet below the summit and in full
view of it, an incomplete circle of steep jagged cliffs. About 330 feet
higher is a little dark lake, the Lago di Monte Rotondo, encircled by
gentle green slopes, where the night is generally spent. Snow-field
extend from the lake to the summit, which, although apparently near,
requires 2 full hours' climbing to reach, often on hands and feet, over
sharp fragments of rock, or up steep beds of slippery frozen snow. The
extreme peak is a rugged obelisk of gray rock ending in a pinnacle. A
way leads down by the S. side in 6 hours, to Guagno by lake Bettianella,
3419 ft., then W. by the road over the Col de Manganella, 5874 ft. See
map, p. 20.

[Headnote: GRANITE.]
"The view from Monte Rotondo did not impress me. The central
uplands, which form a large portion of it, are bare and arid, while the
great ridge of Monte Cinto stretches across the northern horizon like a
long screen. Comparatively little of the coast is seen in any direction,
but most towards the west. It was curious to notice how completely the
tops of the mountains between us and the Cinto ridge were flattened
down, while the crest on which we stood was a set of bristling teeth.
There are two kinds of granite in Corsica, one friable and unable to
resist the action of the air, the other hard and defiant of the elements.
Of this latter consist the Cinto range, Monte Rotondo and the rocks in
the forest of Bavella."--D. W. Freshfield, Alpine Club.
The road now from Corté to Bastia traverses the Quilico Col, 1932 ft.,
passes Soveria, 1843 ft., and Caporalino, 8 m. from Corté, 36 from
Bastia and 1 m. from Omessa. About 1½ m. farther it crosses the Golo
by the Francardo bridge, 856 ft., where it meets the great Forest Road
from Porto, 50 m. S.W. by Evisa and the Col de Vergio, p. 18, and map,
p. 20.
[Headnote: PONTE LECCIA.]
miles from AJACCIO miles to BASTIA
{66}{29} PONTE ALLA LECCIA, 624 ft. Village, and coach and
railway station. Inn: Cyrnoz. Diligence to Calvi by the beautiful
northern continuation of the road from Prunete by Cervione and
Piedicroce, p. 20. "Courrier" daily to Piedicroce, 18 m. S.E. by
Morosaglia, see p. 34. During the summer heats Ponte alla Leccia is
considered insalubrious.
[Headnote: PONTE NOVO.]
{71}{24} PONTE NOVO. The site of the disastrous battle fought on
the 9th of May 1769, when the Corsicans lost their independence and
became subject to France. The two small houses on the right bank, a
little farther down the river, were Paoli's headquarters. One month

afterwards he, with some other Corsican refugees, sailed from Porto
Vecchio in a British vessel for England (p. 39).
[Headnote: BORGO.]
{85}{10} BORGO, pop. 820. On the Mariana hills, rising from Lake
Biguglia, one of the many lagoons on the eastern coast, separated from
the sea by narrow sandbanks. Along this coast extend the only large
plains in Corsica. Unfortunately, in summer they are subject to malaria,
which, however, a judicious system of drainage is gradually abating.
They are cultivated by Italian labourers who visit the island
periodically. Between Borgo and Bastia is Bevinco, with valuable
marble quarries. Southward from Borgo on the coast is Mariana, the
site of the colony founded by Marius (p. 34).
[Headnote: BASTIA.]
{95} BASTIA, pop. 21,000. Hotels: *France; Europe; Lingenieur;
Croix de Malte over the post and telegraph office, all in the Boul. du
Palais, 8 to 10 frs. Theatre; Public Library with 65,000 volumes.
Steamers twice a week to Marseilles, time 18 hours, touching once a
week at Nice, 12 hours distant. Fare direct to Marseilles, including food,
28 frs. To Nice, without food, 30 frs. Rubattino's steamers leave three
times a week for Leghorn; time 6 hours. These same steamers proceed
afterwards to Genoa. Railway to Corté. Rail also to Aleria, whence
diligence to Bonifacio, Sartène and Ajaccio.
Diligences daily from Bastia to Cap Corse, 7 hours,