Monday, June 06, 2011

VILLAGES OF LA BALAGNE

CORSICA - AUGUST 2010


"CORBARA MONASTERY - Built in 1430 and formerly a Franciscan monastery, the Saint Dominic Monastery is located 300 m above the sea level between Corbara and Pigna"


"CHURCH OF PIGNA"


"CHURCHES OF LA BALAGNE"


"PIGNA"


"PIGNA"


"VIEWS FROM PIGNA -Towards Calvi and towards Corbara"


"SANT'ANTONINO - An ancient circular village on the northern coast of Corsica, perched on a rocky hilltop that overlooks the ocean and the Balagne region"


"SANT'ANTONINO - Built in the ninth century, this village is one of the most beautiful in France. It offers superb views to the surrounding mountains..."


"SANT'ANTONINO - ... and also superb views towards Calvi and the Mediterranean Sea!"


"A TERRACE WITH A VIEW"


"STROLLING SANT'ANTONINO"


"LUMIO"

59 comments:

Trotter said...

Hi Everybody! There will be a bunch of posts on Corsica this summer... In fact, the least I travel the more pictures I take anytime I go out... And the result is a difficult choice to make and a lot of details to show... But Corsica is probably one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean, so I think it’s worth while taking some time to have a look!! So, after the sea, let’s go to the Villages...
Have a great week!!

hpy said...

Apparemment il suffit de me disputer pour que je visite les spécialistes ès PVC, PET, PPL et autres matières plastiques....

Olivier said...

la vue sur l'eglise est magnifique

diane b said...

It looks a lovely ancient Island. Some of those buildings look like they have grown from the ground itself.

Thérèse said...

Ravissant l'intérieur du monastère de Corbara! Et la vue de là-haut n'en parlons pas...

PeterParis said...

Good that you took the time to look around! Definitely worth it! Did you walk or drive (sometimes a bit frightening!)?

SusuPetal said...

Lovely hills and mountains.

seema gupta said...

what a view of mountain and high hills, seems nature is full of magical beauty. thanks for shairing
regards

alicesg said...

Looked like a nice place to visit. The village looked so quiet, where are all the people?

joo said...

Gorgeous place, wow - I'd better book the plane ticket and visit it as soon as possible:)

Ron said...

Great post! Happy Summer and travel season. I am off to Disney in 8 days.

Cergie said...

La plus belle île de la Méditerranée, dis tu ? Quelle est la plus belle de l'Atlantique ?
:)
Je n'y ai jamais posé le pied, je rêverais de faire un bout du GR20 pourtant et mon mari d'emprunter le train corse...

BLOGitse said...

It seems to be more beautiful, more history everywhere else than at home...
When are you coming to Helsinki? It's very hot here now, almost +30!

Unknown said...

Great views as usual wherever you travel. The hills beckon but I'm stuck where I am!

magiceye said...

thank you for the lovely virtual tour as always!!

yyam said...

Oh wow! Looks like a lovely place to visit!

[G@ttoGiallo] said...

Ha ha! everyone got his "Pigna", mine is on the Riviera, http://bit.ly/lPhmsC and you 'virtually' know it.
Love your villages.

Light and Voices said...

I loved this cyber tour with houses on steep hills, beaches in Corsica and the wonderful collages.
Joyce M

Anonymous said...

Hi Gil, I am saving my pennies, hopefully for a trip here next year. If the economy would only improve a bit. I may have to stay in a monastery. :)

alicesg said...

Very beautiful village. Far away from the madding crowd. Look very peaceful and clean town. I would love to stay there.

A Lady's Life said...

Love the quotes and also this quiet peaceful residential place with such a great view.
Thanks Trotter:)

juka14 said...

Nice looking villages with a great view of the hills.

eye in the sky said...

The first photo alone just takes my breath away. Wow!

rochambeau said...

The photos of Corsica you share are fantastic. I like the sanctuary of La Balange, especially the red chandelier. Looking forward to more posts of the beautiful place. Thank you for your post!!
Happy weekend to you and Mrs. T!

xox
Constance

Nikon said...

Beautiful villages, Gil, with beautiful views.
The narrow side streets remind me of Italy.
You're very lucky :)

Rajesh said...

Beautiful shots. It is located in a nice place.

Pietro Brosio said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Pietro Brosio said...

Hello Gil! I really have enjoyed very much your wonderful views! So beautiful the monastery, the church, the village of Sant'Antonino and all the other images!
Happy Sunday!
P.S: The time of my post is real!!!

:-)

Ola said...

wonderful views and wonderful location!!!

wilbo43 said...

A fabulous region, Lot of history there. I'd love to sit there with a glass if Chianti.

Emery Roth said...

The church if Pigna is very unusual and a wonderful start to an interesting tour. Great light t Balagne.

Galaxy6139 said...

wonderful scenes, but it seems quite hot ^^ Have a nice weekend

april said...

A great rocky landscape with a wonderful view. Astonishing all those villages perching on top of the rocks.
Greetings from Cologne,
Ingrid

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hello,

Awesome photos. Fascinating places. I thoroughly enjoyed these magnificent photos.

Have a lovely Sunday,
Josepg

Chuckeroon said...

Deep sigh......

Trotter said...

Hi Folks! Four days at home, with some beach intermezzo, gave me some time to bring some order to updating Blogosphere contacts... So, here are the replies to your much appreciate comments on the Balagne post! And thanks once again for your support to this blog...

Hélène,
Merci. Pas vraiment de plastique en Corse... Et quand il y on a, ce n’est pas toujours souhaitable… ;)

Olivier,
Pigna ou Corbara? Peut-être Pigna, plus proche… Je ne sais pas pourquoi, mais j’ai oublié de prendre une photo de l’église de Sant’ Antonino… l faisait trop chaud au soleil… ;

Diane,
Indeed!! Hope you have a great tor in the United States!! Two months?? I’m green of jealousy... ;)

Thérèse,
Je ne suis pas entré dans le monastère… Mais la vue de la haut était vraiment superbe…

Peter,
As you’ll see this long summer, I definitely took the time to look around!! I drove, but safely on the inner side of the roads... ;), and I also walked, but just a little bit... ;)...

Susu,
A perfect spot for your summer holidays, I presume... Why don’t you give a try? Think it over...

Seema,
Welcome back here!! Magical beauty indeed!!

Alice SG,
It was lunch time in summer, so people were either at home eating or on the beach... ;).
And thanks for commenting twice!!

Joo,
OK, just start packing while it’s warm... ;)

Ron,
Hope you have a fabulous holiday!!

Trotter said...

Part Two:

Lucie,
Madère, parce que j’y suis né… ;)
Mais il faut bien y aller, même sans faire le GR 20. Un peu dangereux avec le climat changeant… ;)

Blogitse,
Lots of history in Corsica, indeed...
I would love to get back to Finland, but finding time is a nightmare...

Keats,
It seems we’re all stuck where we are... ;)

Magic,
Your treat, my pleasure!! ;)

Yvonne,
It is... Start packing... ;)

G@tto,
Come on, your Pigna is sumptuous; this Pigna is just a village... ;)

Joyce,
Thanks! I’m truly glad you liked it...

Lynn,
It would be great if everything improves a bit... But on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, Europe is lacking exactly when it was more needed...

Lady,
You mean Pigna? It’s superb and home to some fine artisans...

Juka,
From Sant’Antonino, the views are excellent!!

Erika said...

Bellissima la tua Corsica! Non ci sono mai venuta ma le tue foto mi invogliano ad organizzare un viaggio.
Buona serata.

Dianne said...

Wonderful selection of photos Trotter - I can feel the history of the place. Merci

kyh said...

beautiful island! so exotic and full of cultural wonders :)

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Marvelous pictures, as always!

Loved the one with the cobblestone pathway!

Trotter said...

Part Three:

Eye,
What about the others? ;)

Constance,
Amazing how you noticed the chandelier in such a small picture... ;)

Paul,
It was Genoese for many centuries; no wonder the Italian look... ;)

Rajesh,
Indeed!

Pietro,
I believe your time is real, but posting at 5:03 a.m. is something that would never come to my mind... ;)

Ola,
You’re absolutely right!!

Wilbo43,
Since we are in France, I thought you would choose your preferred Chateauneuf du Pape... ;)

Ted,
It’s true that the light was fabulous, in particular in Pigna, though it was lunch time...

Galaxy,
It’s true that the heat was striking in those villages, but nothing that we couldn’t stand...

Ingrid,
Sant’Antonino is a pure delight!!

Joseph,
My pleasure!!

Stuart,
Wikipedia: «A sigh is an especially audible, single exhalation of air out of the mouth or nose, that humans use to communicate emotion. It often arises from a negative emotion, such as dismay, dissatisfaction, boredness, or futility. A sigh can also arise from positive emotions such as relief, particularly in response to some negative situation ending or being avoided». Where are you? ;))

Trotter said...

Part Four and final, for the time being:

Erika,
Grazie per il tuo commento, la prima volta qui!! Gran piacere di trovare bloggers per qui «viaggiare é la (...) più grande passione». Scusa il mio misèrrimo Italiano... ;)

Dianne,
My pleasure!

Kyh,
Welcome back! Long time no see…

Rakesh,
Typical Balagne!!

Ash said...

Stunning images, Gil. Thanks so much for sharing.

Trotter said...

Ash,
Great to see you back here!!
My pleasure!!

PeterParis said...

The inner side of the road is not always the right side! :-)

Trotter said...

Peter.
I know; but in Corsica is definitely the safe side... ;)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

What a gorgeous island Corsica is! It looks very mountainous and the views are fantastic! I love how such much has been preserved in good condition...wonderful history to explore!

Trotter said...

Pat,
It's not without reason that some name it the most beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea...

The Nomadic Pinoy said...

Sant'Antonino looks very charming with incredible views to match! It must be touch getting supplies up there if there were no roads!

Trotter said...

Nomdic,
Great to read you back here!!
Fortunately there are roads; probably since people went to settle up there... ;)

Marja said...

Nice pictures. Leuk om al die mooie plaaatjes in het echt te zien

Trotter said...

Marja,
Thanks! Hard to translate Dutch... ;)

Emm said...

This place is so beautiful! I think the photos of and from Pigna are my favourite.

Trotter said...

Emm,
Truly beautiful indeed! But Sant'Antonino is also fantastic!!

Regina said...

Truly gorgeous!

Trotter said...

Regina,
Thanks!!

La lanterna dei sogni said...

Great travel in Corsica!

Questo convento l'ho visitato un paio di anni fa... bella regione la Balagne.

Thanks!

Trotter said...

Lanterna,

Thanks! My pleasure!!