The Mattei Mill in Cap Corse
Visible from afar with its white silhouette topped by a red roof on the heights of the Col de la Serra in Ersa, the Mattei Mill is today one of the most photographed landmarks in Cap Corse.
The last remaining windmill of Cap Corse
The Mattei Mill was once just one of the many windmills that harnessed the powerful winds of Cap Corse. By the end of the 18th century, no fewer than 13 tower mills were recorded between Méria and Morsiglia, several of which were located in the towns of Ersa and Rogliano. This exceptional concentration is due to the region's constant exposure to sea winds, which at the time provided an ideal source of energy for grinding grain.
Starting in the 19th century, these mills gradually ceased operations and fell into ruin. Today, only the remains of some of them still dot the landscape. From the Col de la Serra, it is also possible to see the ruins of two old mills located near the Mattei Mill, silent witnesses to this activity that was once essential to local life.
Mill restored in 1930 by François Mattei
The Mattei Mill, formerly known as the Franceschi Mill, is the only one of these tower mills to have undergone a complete restoration. Its iconic silhouette thus helps preserve the memory of this rural heritage, which has now almost disappeared.
Built in the late 18th century as the Franceschi Mill, it was one of the many windmills that harnessed the region's powerful winds. Damaged by lightning in the 19th century and subsequently abandoned, it was restored around 1930 by François Mattei, heir to the famous L.N. Mattei company, who transformed it into an advertising icon for the Cap Corse Mattei aperitif. The sails visible today are decorative and serve as a reminder of this unique conversion.
Acquired by the Conservatoire du littoral at the end of the 20th century, the mill underwent further restoration to preserve this iconic heritage site. It is now a must-see stop for visitors to Cap Corse, drawn as much by its history as by the magnificent views of Centuri, the Giraglia, the Agriates, and, on clear days, the Tuscan archipelago.
An exceptional location between sea and mountains
The Mattei Mill occupies a remarkable position at the Col de la Serra, in the municipality of Ersa, at the western tip of Cap Corse. Perched at an altitude of about 365 meters, it overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, which lies just over a kilometer away as the crow flies. This proximity between the mountains and the coastline explains the strong winds that regularly sweep through the area.
A little further along towards the sea, you can see a statue of Saint Devota.
Located on the border between the municipalities of Ersa and Centuri, the mill offers a sweeping panorama of the western coast of Cap Corse. From its promontory, the view extends to the port of Centuri, the Agriates Desert, the Corsican peaks, and, on particularly clear days, as far as the Tuscan islands and the Alps. Further north, the village of Ersa is clearly visible, with the island of Capraia in the background.
Geographical location
The mill stands at an elevation of 365 meters, yet is located just over a kilometer from the sea. It is situated in the commune of Ersa, a village at the tip of western Cap Corse, straddling the commune of Centuri below.
A tower mill, not a Genoese tower
Despite its cylindrical shape, which resembles certain fortified Corsican towers, the Mattei Mill is not a Genoese tower. The Genoese towers, built between the 16th and 17th centuries along the coast, were designed to monitor the coastline and alert the population in the event of Barbary pirate raids.
The Mattei Mill, on the other hand, belongs to the family of mill-towers. These agricultural structures used wind power to drive the millstones used for grinding grain. By the end of the 18th century, Cap Corse had about fifteen mills of this type.
