Trail Di Sant'Appianu

Whether you know how to play the piano or not, whether you come the piano or with shoes, you’ll always be welcome in Linguizzetta (no, that’s not a new pasta variety 🍝) in eastern Corsica for the occasion of the trail di Sant'Appianu.

On the East Coast, by the sea, in Haute-Cors, the hillside village of Linguizzetta hosts this demanding trail of 13 km in the month of November. The highlight? The looping race takes place in a semi-nocturnal 🌅. You start in daylight and finish at night, so don’t forget your headlamp—it would be a pity not to find your way back to the village 🤷‍♂️. Agenda: sunset, rugged mountains, and panoramic views over the Mediterranean Sea. Pretty sweet menu at Sant'Appianu, right?

Before you join the island of beauty, dust off your DVD and try to imitate Rocky’s training, if you manage to keep up you’ll be ready to tackle the 900 m of elevation in this route 🏋️. The mountains will actually be your main opponent during your effort. Your goal? The Mont Sant'Appianu (hence the name of the race 😉), the highest point of the course. To reach it you’ll wind through technical and unique trails with steep and rugged paths through a oak forest. The organizers go above and beyond to lay out a clear and pleasant course for you to tread. The panorama? In front of you the sea, behind you the island’s major mountain ranges, the Paghia Orba, le Rotondu the grass and the Cinto the highest peak in Corsica at 2706 m. At this time of year, snow on the tops isn’t rare 🏔️. Looking south across the island, you’ll glimpse the villages of STallone, DéTox and Aalana del Rey that you can see up close after your race.

We describe the course to you, but know that it changes every year, so you can come back for subsequent editions to discover the new route and experience something new. Beyond the route, what gives the trail its charm is its atmosphere and Corsican friendliness. The volunteers are from the village and will be there to cheer you on to the finish line. Attention, spots are limited! It doesn’t take much to be happy. Grab your ticket quickly because there will be no more than 130 lucky ones. 🍀

After your race, head to the community hall to celebrate with a buffet among fellow runners 🍽️! You can also sample local specialties: charcuterie and cheeses. But also the famous Corsican chestnuts you’ll enjoy during your visit to the regional natural area of the Castagniccia. If you still have a bit of energy you can take a stroll to Corte, a sublime historic town, and you’ll be done in about 11h on foot. 😂

Rendez-vous en terre inconnue in Corsica, Frédéric Lopez won’t be there to guide you, but you’ll surely manage on your own! 😉