Lama: Village History and Trails in the Ostriconi Valley

Lama lies in the Ostriconi Valley, in a landscape shaped by the contrast between sea and mountains. The village’s appearance, its agro-pastoral cultural landscape and trails with varying distances and durations offer different ways to shape your stay. If you are looking for a hotel in Lama, you might first consider whether you are most interested in village history, the landscape or a particular hike.

Lanes, Houses and Cultural Landscape

The village’s appearance includes houses with medieval ground-floor sections and paved lanes with numerous vaulted passageways. Large manor houses are known as “i palazzi.” These architectural features give the village its distinctive historic character and offer a different way to experience Lama from the trails in the surrounding area.

The protected area of Lama is also designated as a “Site Patrimonial Remarquable.” Its agro-pastoral features include centuries-old olive groves, threshing floors, cultivated terraces and wells. The landscape therefore tells not only of its setting between sea and mountains, but also of the area’s agricultural heritage.

Chapel, Stallò and Village History

The former Chapel of San Lorenzo was built at the end of the 13th century. It preserves frescoes from the late 15th or early 16th century. The frescoes therefore date from after the chapel was built, making it an interesting place for travellers curious about the different historical layers of a village.

The Stallò is housed in a large, church-like hall dating from the 19th century, which long served as a gendarmerie stable. Today, the Stallò offers visitors a permanent exhibition of old photographs. Families from the village donated the pictures, which depict people and traditional scenes from earlier times. The venue also hosts changing themed exhibitions throughout the year. In addition, the Stallò is used for conferences and workshops.

Another way to explore the history of the village alongside its surroundings is “Lama Secretu.” The mobile app is based on a five-act tour with 23 stops. The tour combines the village’s history with aspects of the surrounding nature, tracing Lama’s story from its medieval origins in 1206 to the present day.

Trails with Different Durations

The “Chemin de Funtana di u Canale” is a 20-minute round trip to a spring. After a 600-metre stretch from the entrance to the village, a wooden sign points the way to the spring. The stated duration makes this a different option from the longer routes.

The “Chemin de la mémoire” is a 4.8-kilometre round trip between Lama and Urtaca that takes about an hour and a half. Along the way, it passes rural landmarks such as sheepfolds, hay barns, threshing floors and cultivated terraces. This trail focuses more on the area’s agro-pastoral history.

The “Sentier du patrimoine de Lama” is a two-kilometre round trip that takes two hours and has little elevation gain. Its vegetation includes wild olive trees, centuries-old olive trees, juniper, maquis and natural meadows. The three trails described therefore differ both in their stated duration and in whether they focus on a spring, rural landmarks or vegetation. There is also the option of bivouacking at the Refuge du Prunincu.

Sheep Farming and Farmhouse Cheese

Local produce includes GAEC Lama – Fromagerie de l’Ostriconi, a family-run business in Lama specialising in sheep farming and the production of farmhouse cheese. It uses traditional craftsmanship. This adds an insight into the village’s agricultural and culinary side to its historical and landscape highlights.

Discover more destinations: Borgo, Speloncato, Palasca, Vescovato, Manso, Albertacce, Sant'antonino, Santa-Lucia-di-Mercurio.

For the broader travel overview: Haute-Corse.