Discover Osani: Scandola, Girolata and Coastal Trails

When looking for a hotel in Osani, you can plan your trip around specific landscape and cultural themes: Scandola, Girolata, Gradelle Beach and the surrounding hiking trails. These places and routes offer different points of reference—from protected coastal landscapes and historic buildings to individual stages of hiking trails. When planning, it is important to consider how each place can be accessed, as well as the starting and finishing points of the trails.

Scandola and the Gulf of Girolata

The Scandola Nature Reserve in Osani was established on 9 December 1975 and covers 1,919 hectares. Geologically, Scandola is the part of an ancient volcanic complex that lies above the sea; part of the complex has collapsed into the sea. The reserve is considered one of the most important refuges for the osprey in France. The Gulf of Girolata is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Gulf of Porto,” which has been protected since 1983.

The two dates refer to different protection designations: 1975 marks the establishment of the nature reserve, while 1983 marks the protection of the World Heritage Site. If you are interested in nature and landscapes, you can consider Scandola’s geological description separately from the gulf’s UNESCO designation.

Girolata: access and construction history

Girolata is a well-sheltered anchorage on Corsica’s west coast, at the edge of the Scandola Nature Reserve. The natural harbor can only be reached by boat or on foot, as no road has ever been built there. Bear this access limitation in mind when planning a visit to Girolata.

The Fortin de Girolata is in the hamlet of Girolata in Osani, Corse-du-Sud. Its construction began with a rectangular tower built in the mid-16th century. By the first quarter of the 17th century, the structure had been expanded into a heavily fortified complex. Its architecture is considered highly original and differs markedly from other Genoese defensive monuments in Corsica. Girolata also has a viewpoint overlooking Scandola, Cap Seninu and the village.

Beach and hiking trails

Plage de Gradelle lies below the village of Osani. The 200-meter-long cove is made up of small pebbles; it is the last beach accessible by car before the Gulf of Girolata. From there, an accessible trail leads onto the Gradelle–Caspiu hike, which offers beautiful views of the Gulf of Porto. Road and trail conditions may vary.

Gradelle Kayak rents sea kayaks at the beach; operations may vary seasonally. If you want to include a rental in your trip plans, take this seasonal limitation into account.

The Mare e Monti Nord long-distance trail runs from Calenzana to Cargèse and comprises ten stages. These include the sections from Galéria to Girolata and from Girolata to Curzu. The trail is part of the discovery trail network of the Parc Naturel Régional de la Corse. The two hikes offer different ways to orient yourself: the Gradelle–Caspiu hike is defined by its starting point at the beach and views of the Gulf of Porto, while the Mare e Monti Nord is defined by its sequence of stages between Calenzana and Cargèse.

Traces of rural life

The Aghja of Girolata is a very well-preserved threshing floor that was used to thresh grain until the end of the 1950s. The hamlet of Curzu has old granite houses. These examples illustrate different aspects of rural heritage: the Aghja as a place for processing grain, and the granite houses as part of Curzu’s built environment.

Discover more destinations: Sollacaro, Viggianello, Serriera, Cauro, Cognocoli-Monticchi, Sarrola-Carcopino, Sant Andrea-Dorcino, Partinello.

For the overview of the wider region: Corse-Du-Sud.