Mare e Monti Sud - Stage 3 (b)

This village is slightly off course, because right before the village there is a small path to the left, which you'll have to take. This path descends all the way down to the beach Plage de Cupabia that you saw earlier. According to the booklet, you should be able to get a meal here, but when we were there in April 1998, there was nothing there.

From the other side of the beach starts a long but easy climb along the village of Marmuntagna (212 meters), the Bocca di Pozzi (464 meters) and the Punta di u Petellu (512 meters) and eventually to the Punta di Pinselli (603 meters). You can see this point from a distance, because right next to it there are a number of large antennas. On the way up, you walk along some of the typical paths that have walls on both sides.

As soon as you pass by the antennas, the path ends at a road that you follow downwards. This road takes you to the larger road D55a. To get to the hotel that's the destination for this stage, take right here (direction Cardo). But if you've got the time and the energy, it's worth your while to go in the other direction first, and visit the small village of Coti-Chiavari, where you can usually do some shopping.

The hotel Belvedêre is about 1,500 meters (a little less than a mile) outside the village, near Imbracatajo on the map. It's a stunningly beautiful hotel and a very warm reception.

The hotel is situated on a mountain tip and has an extraordinary view over the Gulfe de Valincu, the bay of Ajaccio. They have a restaurant with a magnificent view over the bay and on bright days also the perfect sunset.

The photo shown here was made late at night on a timer. You can see Ajaccio across the bay, and the small coastal village of Portiglioli closer by.