Coti-Chiavari Penitentiary

A pleasant family walk in the cool shade of the trees, offering a magnificent view of the Ajaccio golf course once you reach the top.

Details

1365179
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.43 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 218 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 211 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 194 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access is via the car park located at the bend in the "Mare e Sole" beach, also known as "Plage d'Argent" (Silver Beach)

(S/E) From the car park, take the path heading east into the cork oak forest, following the signposts for the "myrtle trail".

(1) Walk down a few metres and take the path on the left to reach a small stream with the ruins of an old water mill. Walk up opposite to reach a wider sandy path.

(2) Go up the track to the right. Cross the Sapara Porcaia stream, continue along a few bends and you will reach a crossroads near the Petinello stream.

(3) At the crossroads, turn left and walk up to the road along the Formicolosa stream.

(4) Follow the road to the right to reach the ruins of the penitentiary.

(5) Enjoy the view of the golf course, then retrace your steps to the previous crossroads.

(4) Take the track on the right.

(6) Go up to the second fork on the right to reach the foot of the dam.

(7) Take a narrow path on the right, climbing between the trees to reach a trail on the left. You will arrive above the dam, which forms a reservoir with water lilies and fish. Walk around it, then descend via a path north of the reservoir, passing between the trees.

(8) Descend a few stone steps onto a track, turn left and then return to the road.

(4) Take the arrival path downhill. Return to the crossroads you passed on the way up.

(3) Leave the path you took on the way up on your right and head straight ahead to rejoin the road. Turn right and walk along the beach to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 3 m - Car park near Mare e Sole beach
  2. 1 : km 1.13 - alt. 42 m - In Fica (ruins)
  3. 2 : km 1.41 - alt. 44 m - Track to the right.
  4. 3 : km 3.63 - alt. 37 m - At the crossroads, turn left.
  5. 4 : km 5.85 - alt. 144 m - Former Chiavari Penitentiary
  6. 5 : km 6.36 - alt. 140 m - View on the left
  7. 6 : km 7.05 - alt. 154 m - Turn right at the second fork
  8. 7 : km 7.19 - alt. 167 m - Narrow path on the right.
  9. 8 : km 7.84 - alt. 160 m - There are a few stone steps.
  10. S/E : km 11.42 - alt. 3 m - Car park near Mare e Sole beach

Notes

This walk can be done in any season, but it is best to do it in the morning or late afternoon if the weather is very hot.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Blp69
Blp69

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route in every respect. The prison building is on private property but is of no interest anyway. When you reach the dam, take the path on the right (not the left). Walk around the dam to see the beautiful water lilies. There is a very pretty path on the right that cuts between points 8 and 6.

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ballondor
ballondor

A very pleasant walk, gradually climbing upwards and lined with eucalyptus trees, accessible to all.
Superb view of the Gulf of Ajaccio for picnics.
The route marking at the start could be improved (or have Visiorando 😬, which makes it very easy).

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Junior
Junior

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Lovely walk, shame about the information on the history of the prison and apparently not open to the public
easy, family-friendly hike

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ballondor
ballondor

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk accessible to all ages and abilities, with a summit offering sublime views over the Gulf of Ajaccio

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luc.dodille
luc.dodille

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Fine

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lenouh974
lenouh974

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note that three quarters of this walk is in direct sunlight, which should be taken into account during the summer months. A walk with beautiful scenery, scrubland and forest. There are numerous shortcuts, and we took a few of them to complete the walk in 2 hours and 40 minutes at a good pace. Download the GPX track for points 1 to 2 as the path is not easy to find

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fil61
fil61

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, easy hike. It's a shame there's no history about the prison; you'll have to look it up online yourself. Beautiful forest of cork oak and eucalyptus trees. You come across a small cemetery where

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fil61
fil61

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, easy hike. It's a shame there's no history about the prison, so you'll have to look it up online yourself. Beautiful forest of cork oak and eucalyptus trees. You'll come across a small cemetery with no names on the crosses 🤔.
A beautiful dam built by prisoners in 1870. And after all that effort, the silver beach with white sand is perfect for a nice swim 👍

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Moustache 13
Moustache 13

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The condition of the hiking trail was mediocre, and there was no explanation for the omissions not mentioned on the hike.

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Francis Henriet
Francis Henriet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice tour. It's a shame that the prison's history isn't explained in front of it.

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Chromo
Chromo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant and peaceful hike, often along farm tracks (there is a similar route for mountain bikes). No navigation issues (I regularly check the map I downloaded beforehand). The large area below the prison offers a magnificent view of the Gulf of Ajaccio and is the perfect spot for a snack. Suitable for families. No, really nice

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RANDOCATHY
RANDOCATHY

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike. Beautiful views.

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njnrando
njnrando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No one mentions the dam, but for us it's the reward 👍. The view is magnificent, and walking around this small lake (pond) is a truly peaceful experience. The hike is pleasant, first passing through a cork oak forest, then ending on a nice path lined with eucalyptus trees that may be hundreds of years old... Thank you, Antoinehlh, for sharing this.

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krisstep
krisstep

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

a lovely, easy hike that our group of hikers did at the start of the season 👍

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patldl
patldl

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, not too difficult, with a magnificent view of the prison. It's a shame that the local council hasn't done more to showcase the various "remnants" of the old prison.

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