The small town of Saint Florent is situated in North Corsica, nestled between Balagne Region and Cap Corse Region (only 26km from Bastia), at the entry of Agriates Desert.
Until 1848, the town was called San Fiorenzo (italian name).
Saint Florent is a part of Niebbo, in the canton of Conca d’Orto, gathering together 8 towns.
This-one is edged with the Mediterranean, its gulf is anyway one of the nicest.
The town disposes of a very lovely small port as well as wonderful beaches remained in wild state and famous vineyards, of which notably the vineyards of Patrimonio.
A FEW NUMBERS
Population : 1636 inhabitants (FNISES 2008 Sources)
Surface area : 1798 ha
TRANSPORT
The town has no commercial port and no airport, you can access from the commercial ports of Calvi (69km), Ile Rousse (46km) and Bastia (23km).
You also can access by plain from the airports of Calvi and Bastia.
Contrary to Calvi and Bastia, the corsican railway does not stop in Saint Florent, a car is then necessary because you will find very few transit passes in Corsica.
HISTORY
Archaeological finds provide evidence of human existence during the Neolithic period.
The town of Saint Florent was the Bishop’s seat in the ancient region of Nebbio.
The Genovese founded the town in the 16th century, but its citadel was built in 1440 as a means of defence against Aragonese, French and Ottoman invasions.
A few years after his defeat in Ponte Novu, Pascal Paoli, helped by the British and especially Nelson’s fleet, liberated the port of Saint Florent in 1793.
CULTURAL HERITAGE
– Niebbo Cathedral (12th century) – medieval monument preserved from 1840 and classified ancient monument in 1875
– Saint Anne Parish Church(18th century) in the heart of the town with its square.
– The genovese citadel (1140) overlooking the gulf of Saint Florent. It formelly served to protect the town of Bastia.
– The Mortella Tower (16th century).
This one is situated on the eastern coast of Agriates.
-The Torra di Fornali (a Genovese tower from the 16th century) was part of the defence system built to protect Saint Florent. Ten such towers were planned, but not all of them were built, and of those that were, none of them have been restored.
– The fountain on the square “Doria”
SPECIAL FEATURES
It’s situated at the entry of the small region of the Agriates Desert.
Its climate is arid where almost nothing grows except for undergrowth.
Its surface area is about 15 000 ha of which 5515 get to the Coastal Conservatory and 5000 get to the towns of Saint Florent, Casta, Malfacu/Alga and Bocca Di Vezzu.
Access is possible on “rutty” roads with either a 4X4, or by walking on marked trails that will lead you to either:
– Sheepfolds of Terricie via the Ostriconi trail
– Malfacu via the Bocca Di Vezzu trail
– The lovely beach of Saleccia via the Casta trail
– Saint Florent via the Fornali trail
BEACHES
The Gulf of Saint Florent is skirted by many beaches of pebbles but also wonderful beaches of which:
– La Roya Beach right in Saint Florent.
– Loto Beach reachable either by the Agriates Desertes of by boat.
– The completely undeveloped beach of Saleccia (where you might come across some cows) is accessible either by crossing the Agriates desert or by boat.