Petreto-Bicchisano: Village History, Heritage and River Activities

Petreto-Bicchisano brings together historic village architecture and sacred history with a Bronze Age site, river activities and regional produce. If you plan your stay around specific interests, the topics range from buildings and church furnishings to an unsupervised bathing spot, seasonal fishing and local visitor experiences. This lets you include cultural highlights and activities with different conditions in your travel plans.

Village Architecture and Saint-Nicolas

In the upper part of Petreto, you can stroll through lanes lined with numerous 16th-century buildings. Here you can see architectural details, public fountains and a shaded square. If you are interested in the built environment, you can focus on the details of the houses; the fountains and square add a sense of the village’s public spaces.

The parish church of Saint-Nicolas was rebuilt between 1874 and 1878 on the site of an older church. It preserves furnishings transferred from a former monastery, including a polychrome altar and statues, chapels and paintings listed in the register of historic monuments.

An Earlier Monastic Foundation

According to historical research, the former Franciscan monastery of Saint-François d’Istria was founded in 1602 by the notables Ercole and Federico d’Istria. Its foundation date is significantly earlier than the rebuilding of the parish church of Saint-Nicolas in the late 19th century; it marks a different historical milestone from the church’s construction phase.

Pont d’Abra and the Bathing Spot

Ponti Vecchiu, also known as Pont d’Abra, is a Genoese stone bridge over the Taravo. It was classified as a Monument historique by decree on 10 November 1976. The site of Pont d’Abra is also known as an unsupervised bathing spot. This landmark therefore combines a historic structure with a place to swim that is not supervised. If you plan to swim, check the bathing conditions and safety on site.

The Archaeological Site of Settiva

The archaeological site of Settiva, near the village, dates back to the Bronze Age. It includes a burial chamber formed from large stone slabs and a vestibule separated by stone slabs. Along with its historical dating, this gives you concrete information about the tomb’s layout: the chamber and vestibule are separate areas.

River Fishing

The “U mondu di u pesciu d’Abra” fishing section was established by the Territorial Authority of Corsica and designated as a “No-Kill” stretch. During the river fishing season, first-category fishing regulations apply; the stretch is about 1.5 kilometres long, and any fish caught must be released. The approximate length describes the extent of the section, while the season and fishing category set the time frame and rules. As seasonal conditions and fishing regulations may change, check the current requirements before fishing.

Cheese and Orchards

The Coopérative U Taravu processes locally produced sheep’s and goat’s milk into Sartenais-style cheese with a flowery rind, seasonal brocciu and pressed tomme cheese. The products listed differ in type, seasonal character and method of production. Check product availability and any visitor arrangements before your trip.

Biortu welcomes visitors for snacks, crêpes, fruit juices and orchard tours. Light food and drinks are offered alongside visits to the orchards; check the current visitor arrangements before your trip.

A Landmark South of Petreto-Bicchisano

Parc Aventure Petreto is located in Moca Croce, in the hamlet of Abra, 3 kilometres south of Petreto-Bicchisano, on the T40.1.

Discover more destinations: San-Gavino-Di-Carbini, Sant Andrea-Dorcino, Bocca del Oro, Tolla, Serra-di-Scopamène, Lecci, Sartène, Zonza

For the broader travel overview: Corse-Du-Sud.