Scala di Santa Regina in Corscia
A hiking trail in the Golo valley between mountain, river and waterfall, a Scala di Santa Regina was once the only way for the inhabitants of the Niolu to descend to the plain. It offers a feeling of freedom in an isolated natural setting.
Hiking trail in the Niolu
A Scala di Santa Regina was once a transhumance path and an access route linking the plain to Niolu villages such as Corscia, Albertacce, Calasima and Lozzi. This hike offers beautiful views and panoramas of unspoilt nature, the Falcunaghja river and its waterfall.
Course level
The proposed itinerary stops at the waterfall and at this point presents no great difficulty. It's a clean, signposted half-earth, half-rock trail, which requires good footwear and care along the way, given the steep slopes at times. The starting point is at the Vignente fountain where Notre Dame du Niolu is located, where you can park 2 or 3 cars directly. Because of the mountain belt, it's best to start this walk early in the morning, to take advantage of the sunshine.
View overlooking the valley
The path quickly rises up, offering superb views of the Niolu valley, its red rocks and snow-capped mountains as you look upstream from the Golo. The vegetation is sparse, although there are a few pine trees along the way. Depending on the season, you can find crocus corsicus, a Mediterranean flower that grows in spring in the region.
Falconaia waterfall - Video
The first highlight of the trail is the Falconaia (Falcunaghja) waterfall on the eponymous stream, which can be spelt as Falconaja. The waterfall is located on the right just after the viewpoint on the road leading up to Albertacce. You can hear the sound of the water tumbling down the rocks, the intensity of which varies according to the season and recent rainfall. The Falconaia stream is a tributary of the Golo, the island's largest river.
A Scala di Santa Regina in Fora di Strada
Watch the Scala di Santa Regina with Paul and Karine in the Fora di Strada programme on France 3 Corse Via Stella.
Old communication route
Even a century ago, when roads and cars were not yet part of the landscape, these paths that criss-crossed the mountain slopes were used by Corsicans as their main means of communication, and they are still visible today thanks to the repeated passage of hikers. Such is the case of the Scala di Santa Regina gorge, and the path above the Lancone gorge that linked Bastia to the villages of the Nebbiu.
