Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano is a Corsican village of inimitable charm, renowned for its granite architecture and narrow streets lined with tall old houses, giving the place an authentic, picturesque atmosphere. The Cudetta district, the historic heart of the village, is home to the Casa Turra, a listed 16th-century defensive tower-house that symbolises the region's defensive history.
The heart of the village, marked by the emblematic square, A Piazza di l'Olmu, is a place steeped in history. Once the parish priest's garden, this square now houses a majestic 19th-century fountain and a war memorial whose orbicular diorite base catches the eye with its rare and fascinating concentric patterns that evoke eyes (of which Saint Lucia is the patron).
One of Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano's heritage gems is the Convent of Saint Francis, built in the 15th century and long occupied by the Franciscans, which houses a magnificent polychrome marble high altar dating from the 17th century. The village's Baroque parish church, dedicated to Santa Lucia (you can't make that up), with its single nave, boasts a collection of remarkable sacred works, including a white marble bas-relief, the altarpiece of the Virgin and Child and a Crucifixion attributed to the Master of Castelsardo.
Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano is also one of Corsica's leading olive-growing areas. Renowned for its olive oil, extracted from the famous "Germaine d'Alta Rocca" variety, the village celebrates 'A Festa di l'Olio Novu', the festival of new oil, every March. Visitors can also discover the olive-growing eco-museum, housed in the old paddle mill dating back to the 18th century, which bears witness to the region's ancestral know-how.
The area around Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano is just as rich in heritage. The surrounding hamlets offer treasures such as the Romanesque chapel of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Poggio, the churches of Saint-André and Bisè, and several oratory chapels. The thermal baths of Caldane, famous for their sulphurous waters, and the hamlets of Casabianca, Compoli, Matra and Tasso complete this cultural and natural escapade.
This authentic village, steeped in history yet alive with tradition, offers visitors a unique insight into the soul of the Alta Rocca.
