Capu di U Vitullu starting from Piana

The summit of Vitullu is, wrongly, very little frequented compared to the nearby Capo D'Orto. Interesting if you want to be more alone.
Vitullu (1,331 m) is slightly higher and offers a splendid view.
At its summit is a pyramid, an IGN landmark.

Details

3935316
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.58 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 962 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 960 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,321 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 443 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Piana (20115)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 42.237798° / E 8.637003°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 4150OT, 4151OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the small car park at the Tourist Office in the centre of the village of Piana. (See alternative starting point in the practical information section).

(S/E) The path is behind the official buildings. Take the Old Ota Path, which leads to the fitness trail. Continue along a gently sloping path, cross the Mezzanu Stream and then reach the bridge of the same name. The path heads towards the stadium, without reaching it.

(1) Turn right at the junction with the concrete road and pass in front of the water tank. Follow the yellow markings.
Pass another fire hydrant and continue along the slightly passable path until you reach its end, marked by large stones.
Continue straight ahead on the very stony forest track. You will reach the Monica Fountain.

(2) Take the path to the right. Continue climbing through the pine forest. You will reach the crossroads formed by the path leading left towards "Foce d'Orto" (no arrow present) and the path leading up to Vitullu (arrow present).

(3) Take the path on the right marked "Vitullu". In the pine forest, the path veers twice to the right. The markings (yellow cross) indicate a change of direction and a few branches lying across the path also help to indicate the turn. Wind your way around the rocks and reach the first viewpoint towards the coast and the village of Piana. Cross through the ferns and continue climbing. You will reach a pass. A small niche with a statue of the Virgin Mary is located high up on the rocks on the left. It is in memory of the sister of a Corsican friend who died too young. There is a beautiful view of the other side of Corsica.

(4) Continue climbing to the right. Choose your route based on the rocks. Head towards the rock face and cross it on the left. Continue climbing, keeping to the right. You will reach a rocky plateau from where you can see the summit of Vitullu and its triangular flag. Retrace your steps a few metres to continue.
Head towards several groups of pine trees, keeping to the right as you continue climbing. Head towards an isolated pine tree on the left towards a small opening (pass).

(5) Cross to the other side of the small pass. You will therefore need to approach the summit from behind. The path is slightly visible to the right, after the pass. Walk along the foot of the rocks.

(6) As soon as you see the metal flag on your right, begin the climb. A few cairns indicate the approximate direction. Tip: look back at the route you have taken to help you find your way down more easily.
Walk towards the summit, using your hands to help you at times. Reach the summit of Capu di u Vitullu and its metal pyramid.

(7) Take the same route back to the Piana Tourist Office car park or the Piana stadium (alternative starting point) (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 443 m - Piana Tourist Office car park
  2. 1 : km 1.74 - alt. 502 m - Mezzanu Bridge
  3. 2 : km 5.04 - alt. 857 m - Fontaine Monica fork
  4. 3 : km 5.61 - alt. 947 m - Turn off towards Vitullu instead of Foce d'Orto
  5. 4 : km 6.39 - alt. 1,166 m - Col de la Vierge
  6. 5 : km 7.07 - alt. 1,261 m - Pass below the summit
  7. 6 : km 7.23 - alt. 1,299 m - At the foot of Vitullu
  8. 7 : km 7.3 - alt. 1,321 m - Vitullu summit and pyramid
  9. S/E : km 14.58 - alt. 443 m - tourist Office car park

Notes

Hike completed four times.
Depending on your level, allow between 5 and 6 hours of walking for the round trip.
This hike follows trails that are mainly rocky. Therefore, wear good walking shoes.
Very often shaded.
IBP index = 91 (for a hiker with average training = difficult).

Alternative starting point: drive to the stadium (near the point (1), at the exit of Piana, to the right of the road leading to Porto.

Last completed on 19-07-2021: starting from the stadium (3 hours of ascent, 30-minute break at the summit, 2½ hours of descent). I have reworked the description to improve the orientation of the final ascent from the point (4).

Worth a visit

(S/E) The village of Piana and its few typical restaurants.
On the road to Porto: the Calanches de Piana.
15 minutes from the village, the magnificent Arone beach (fine sand).

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Pounet Rando
Pounet Rando

I'm glad you enjoyed the hike. It's true that the end of the route is a bit intuitive: head towards the scree (rockfall) then head upwards and towards the opening (small pass) to reach Vitulu from behind. As you say, the reward is the breathtaking view at the summit. All the best!

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User 1015572

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in September 2025. I didn't meet anyone, except for a goat watching over his females. The end is a bit tricky because you have to find your way; the app really helps us get back on track when we stray a little too far. That's the price you pay when you're doing the route for the first time. The view from the summit is just incredible; you can even see the Capo Rosso tower. You take a deep breath and enjoy this moment of solitude before descending to the Piana mill to the sound of horns blaring from buses stuck in the calanche... A superb post-lunch walk!

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Pounet Rando
Pounet Rando

I'm glad you enjoyed the hike. It's true that the view from the summit is breathtaking. All the best!

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Ulysse8837
Ulysse8837
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

great route, no particular difficulties apart from the relentless climb to the summit. Superb views throughout. A must-do hike in the region

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User 10862470

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike, easy to follow except for the end, where you have to figure out how to go around the summit from behind. A few sections require using your hands to reach the summit.
Magnificent view and, indeed, I didn't meet anyone else, even in the middle of July.

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Pounet Rando
Pounet Rando

We're glad you enjoyed the hike. It's true that hikers tend to head for Capo d'Orto more often, but Vitulu is also very typical. Thank you for the information about the landslide and the detour. All the best

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Green Demon
Green Demon

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

First of all, thank you for sharing this route, because although the lower part of the hike is very well marked, once you reach the three-quarter point, there are no longer any markings (fortunately there are a few cairns).

I only gave it a 3 for ease of following the route because at one point it had to be changed due to a rockfall, but don't panic, the new path is really close to the trail.

Otherwise, the hike is superb and what a pleasure it is to enjoy the view once you reach the top! I didn't meet many people either when I arrived at the summit at 8:30 a.m., so I was able to enjoy the mountain all to myself. I only met people on the way down (five hikers in all, three of whom were going up the Capu d'Orto side).

Thank you.

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Pounet Rando
Pounet Rando

I'm glad you enjoyed the hike I planned. All the best to you.

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Sylvain64
Sylvain64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An incredible hike with magnificent views of the Gulf of Porto and the Corsican mountains. No one else on the trail. No difficulty, even at the end. If you go around the summit from behind, there are multiple very accessible paths (no problem if you're afraid of heights). Thank you for this wonderful discovery!

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Pounet Rando
Pounet Rando

I'm glad you enjoyed the hike. Yes, you're alone in the world out there, even in July, you'll only meet two people at most

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Risk
Risk

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in beautiful January sunshine!
I set off from the stadium rather than the village to shorten the route slightly (and reduce the elevation gain a little).
I can only confirm the feeling of being "alone in the world": I didn't meet anyone on the way there or back...

The last part isn't always easy to find, but you can guess where you're going, which helps you find the route (with a bit of climbing – don't be afraid of heights).

I was treated to a magnificent sea of clouds at the summit, a must-see!

Thank you for this wonderful discovery!

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Pounet Rando
Pounet Rando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

On 19 July 2021, while hiking this trail again, I met a very friendly couple. It's great fun to meet other hikers following your route. Even more fun because they are originally from Alsace, live in Brittany and are talking to the Belgian creator of a Corsican hike... That's the magic of Visorando!

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