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©Dl Bd Ld Villageabandonnelachiava Jpeg 5

In Chjava

A Chjava is an abandoned village behind Portigliolo beach. From the dozen or so houses, there’s a magnificent view of the Gulf of Valinco. The hike is short and therefore suitable for children. Afterwards, you can cool off on the beach.

🌿As you make your way along the path, you’ll enjoy a fragrant stroll in the heart of a wilderness where the maquis is dense. 🌿 It climbs gently through a small oak-shaded forest.

🥾 30-minute walk

At the slight bend to the right, two paths leave. We take the one on the left, which turns out to be an enormously eroded track, which climbs slightly. After 10 minutes, we reach a large bare surface. Keep to the right here. The track bends to the left and then immediately to the right. Straight up the hill, you can already see the first house of A Chjava.

The second part of the path crosses a small shady wood. In this forest, the remains of terraces where farming was once practised can be seen to the left and right. A quarter of an hour later, we reach the abandoned village of A Chjava. From the most majestic house, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Gulf of Valinco. Below, the beach of Portigliolo stretches out.

The return journey takes the same route.

Find all the information on the local authority’s website: https://www.rando-patrimoine.corsica/Les-villages-oublies

The tourist office cannot be held responsible for any accidents that may occur on this hike.

  • Practical information

    ↔️ Distance: 2.80 km round trip

    🕙 Estimated time: 1h round trip

     

    Difficulty: Easy 🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢

    Highest point: 165 m

  • Access

    🏴 From Propriano, take the D40 towards Bonifacio and, shortly after crossing the Rizzanese river, turn right onto the D121 towards Belvédère and Campomoro. You’ll pass Propriano airfield. 4.5 km after the junction, there’s a parking lot on the right at Robinson.

     

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  • A little history

    The village of A Chjava was founded towards the end of the 16th century by the Capponi and Mozziconacci families from Zicavo. It was only inhabited for a good century.

    On the one hand, the village was quite exposed to the sea, which attracted looters, and on the other, malaria mosquitoes were rising from the mouth of the Rizzanese.

    The situation was further aggravated by the fact that A Chjava’s main spring had dried up. The inhabitants left the village and founded the village of Tivolaggio some 600 m upstream.

    Today, the ruins of a dozen houses are visible. Added to this are the badly deteriorated remains of the communal oven. Approximately 50 m after the last ruin, a menhir stands by the roadside.