In Zicavo, striking churches and stone houses meet hiking trails through a varied mountain landscape. Trails lead from here to the Plateau du Coscione and on to Mont Incudine; at the same time, chapels, local architectural history and the tradition of chestnut flour provide a distinctive cultural focus. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing between hikes, seasonal activities and sightseeing in the village.
Plateau, Pozzines and mountain trails
The Plateau du Coscione lies in the Parc naturel régional de Corse and is part of the Monte Incudine massif. Its landscape includes alpine meadows, pools, rivers and marshy areas. The Forêt de Zicavo encompasses the entire plateau and the Forêt de Coscione at an altitude of over 1,500 metres. In the Forêt de Coscione, high-altitude pozzines are a distinctive natural feature: these are pools and peat bogs.
Hiking trails lead from Zicavo to the Plateau du Coscione and on to Mont Incudine. The GR20 also provides a specific route to follow here: the plateau lies along the new route, established in 2016; from Zicavo, the GR20 leads to the shepherds’ huts at I Croci. These connections describe different destinations. Before setting out on a hike, check the current route and trail conditions, as the route and conditions may be important for planning.
Cross-country skiing is also possible in the Forêt de Zicavo area, which includes the Forêt de Coscione. This is a seasonal alternative to hiking; check on the ground whether snow and access conditions are suitable. The mountain landscape therefore offers both hiking trails and a winter activity, although they do not require the same time of year for a visit.
Waterfalls and horseback rides
About one kilometre outside Zicavo, there is a waterfall at the Camara bridge. There are also pools at a waterfall on the road from Zicavo towards Quenza, suitable for summer swimming. The season is a key factor in choosing: swimming is described as a summer option, while the information about the waterfall at Camara provides a separate location reference.
I Chjassi di l'Altagna offers horseback rides of different durations: one or two hours, half a day or a full day, as well as longer rides. This lets you fit the activity into the rest of your day, rather than treating every option as an outing of the same length. Meals associated with the rides may include local produce such as cheese, meat and cured meats.
Churches, chapels and stone houses
The parish church of Saint-Luxor in Zicavo is Neo-Gothic. It was rebuilt on the site of an older church building that was cramped and dilapidated. The chapel of Saint-Pierre reflects another chapter in the area’s architectural history: it was built in 1871 at the instigation of Ventura and Paolo Leccia. Its roof is covered with granite slabs.
Several houses in Zicavo also feature remarkable walls made of carefully dressed stone. Together with the churches and chapels, they offer a focus for visits that is not limited to individual religious buildings. The landscape around Zicavo includes several chapels, one of which is dedicated to San Risoriu. If you are interested in architecture, you can explore a variety of building styles and religious sites without treating the buildings as a single ensemble.
Chestnut traditions and the tenth GT20 stage
The chestnut trees around Zicavo testify to the importance of chestnut flour production. They point to a local food tradition. The tenth stage of the GT20 offers another perspective on Corsican specialities: it provides an opportunity to meet local producers and discover island products from the craft businesses along the Route des Sens.
This stage runs from Ghisoni to Zicavu for about 45 kilometres and includes around 1,000 metres of elevation gain. These approximate figures give you an idea of the scale when comparing stages. This makes it possible to plan a visit to Zicavo from several perspectives: as a place with architectural history and chestnut traditions, and in connection with trails, natural attractions and a longer route.
Discover more destinations: Sari-D'orcino, Campo, Vico, Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano, Osani, Letia, Évisa, Viggianello.
Back to the main travel overview: Corse-Du-Sud.
