Soccia between Mountain Landscapes and Cultural Heritage

Soccia is built in an amphitheatrical layout on a mountain ridge. The natural landscape surrounding the village forms a cirque around the small Izzola Valley. The municipal area is suited to pastoral farming and includes extensive mountain pastures bordering the Niolu. Together, the ridge, valley and pastures shape the landscape. When choosing Soccia as a destination, you can take its sacred and historical landmarks into account alongside its scenery.

Landscape and Nature at Lac de Creno

Lac de Creno is Corsica’s lowest-altitude lake and the island’s only lake in a forest setting. It is located in Ortu. Nearby, wet meadows in a forest of Laricio pines are home to the rare, protected round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia). The forest, wet meadows and protected plant species give this natural area several distinctive features. At Lac de Creno, the forest landscape is therefore not the only focus: the surrounding area is also a special habitat.

Hiking Trail and Outdoor Activities

The hiking trail to Lac de Creno starts at a monumental cross above the village of Soccia. There is a large car park at the trailhead; the cross and car park provide clear points of reference for getting started. Swimming in the river is also possible in the Soccia area, although conditions vary by season. A descent through Zoïcu Canyon for canyoning includes jumps, natural slides, a zip line and rappelling. The specific features may vary depending on the route and conditions. Both a sporty option and a family option are offered for the canyon; availability may vary by season. The activities on offer therefore include different experiences: a trail to a lake, river swimming, or a canyoning descent with several features.

Sacred Architecture and Cultural Heritage

The parish church of Sainte Marie, also known as the Church of the Assumption, has a bell tower with a lantern. Inside the church is the 1872 altarpiece “The Virgin and Child,” after Raphael. The painting is listed as a historic monument. The church thus brings together a distinctive architectural feature and a precisely dated work created after Raphael. Both provide specific points of reference for Soccia’s cultural heritage.

Historic Routes and Tradition

The Strada Antica once connected Soccia with Corte and was an important transhumance route. From the mouth of the Liamone, it ran through central Corsica, along the Tavignanu Valley and via Pastricciola. Transhumance refers to the seasonal movement between grazing areas; the Strada Antica therefore also reflects the historical importance of pastoral farming in this region. A pilgrimage to Saint Elisée is traditionally held near Soccia on August 29. It is associated with the chapel above Lac de Creno. Alongside the historic routes, a religious tradition with a fixed date and a connection to the area around the lake is among the features that distinguish Soccia.

Discover more destinations: Balogna, Cargese, Aullène, Afa, Serra-Di-Ferro, Vico, Sari-D'orcino, Zévaco

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