Furiani: Hiking, Heritage and Lagoon

Furiani brings together historic religious buildings, hiking trails and the landscape of the Étang de Biguglia with maritime activities at Marana Lido. If you are looking for a hotel in Furiani, you could first ask yourself whether you would most like to experience the area through its history, hiking or nature. The destinations and activities mentioned offer different ways to do so.

Culture and History in Furiani

The Chapelle Santa-Maria-Assunta was classified as a historic monument by decree on 16 October 1992. Its apse preserves fragments of 15th-century frescoes depicting saints. The chapel thus brings together heritage protection and surviving artwork from an earlier period.

The Tour Paoline is the surviving remnant of Furiani’s former castle. Pascal Paoli had it completely rebuilt after 1763. The parish church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste is in the hamlet of Orticcione in the upper village. These buildings offer different historical perspectives: a chapel with frescoes, the memory of a former castle and a parish church in the upper village.

Hiking Trails and Destinations in the Upper Village

The hike to the Santa-Maria Chapel starts in Furiani’s upper village. A path to the Chapelle Sant’Antone leads to a spring beneath chestnut trees.

The location of the parish church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in the hamlet of Orticcione also connects one of the historic sites to the upper village. If you are interested in Furiani’s buildings, you can consider this local history alongside the hiking destinations, without combining the different paths and sights into a single route.

The Biguglia Lagoon and Its Landscape

Furiani shares the protected natural area of the Étang de Biguglia with Biguglia, Borgo and Lucciana. The lagoon is known for its ornithological importance. At 1,450 hectares, it is Corsica’s largest lagoon. This size and protected status give Furiani’s natural attractions a different focus from the historic buildings in the upper village.

The Rives de l’Étang de Biguglia area includes reed beds, maquis and sand dunes on Marana Lido. The lagoon also has two islands: Île des Pêcheurs lies in the northwest, where the Fortin de Biguglia was built; Île San Damiano lies in the middle of the lagoon. The lagoon itself, its islands and the protected area’s different habitats can therefore be considered as distinct aspects of the landscape.

Maritime Activities and Local Highlights

The Club Nautique Bastiais offers maritime activities from Tombulu Biancu beach on Marana Lido in Furiani. It rents out stand-up paddleboards, pedal boats, kayaks, windsurf boards, dinghies and catamarans. The selection includes different types of watercraft and boards; which ones suit your plans depends on the activity you are looking for.

Another local highlight is the Pietra brewery, which opened in Furiani in 1996. It produced a Corsican beer made from a blend of malt and Corsican chestnut flour. Tours and tastings are offered in July and August; as seasonal arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the current dates before visiting. Along with buildings, hiking destinations and lagoon scenery, brewery history and seasonal visits are therefore also topics you can consider when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Ogliastro, Santa-Reparata-Di-Balagna, Brando, Pancheraccia, Campana, Antisanti, Ghisonaccia, Poggio-Marinaccio.

See the broader travel overview: Haute-Corse.