Rocher des Gozzi and Punta Pastinaca in Apietto

de fr

This hike on the outskirts of Ajaccio leads to the Rocher des Gozzi, a red granite cliff, at the top of which there is an exceptional view of the Gulf of Lava, then Ajaccio with its airport and the points of Isulella, Castagna and Capu di Muru, and the Gravone valley.
From Punta Pastinaca, the view is completed to the east by the magnificent view of Monte Rotondo, Monte d'Oro and Monte Renoso and the Gravone valley.

Details

n°483753
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.68 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 419 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 411 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 802 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 425 m
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Photos

The Gozzi Rock

Description of the walk

Park in the San Chirgu Chapel car park.

(S/E) Head towards the car park entrance. The path can be accessed near the information boards, through a wooden barrier. Just after the barrier, take the uphill path, which is deeply eroded in places.

(1) Stay on the main trail (irregular yellow markings), ignoring the small paths that lead off it.

(2) When you reach the small "caseddu" (abandoned cottage), you will come to a platform. Go around the east side of the "caseddu" and follow the path uphill towards Rocher des Gozzi. Some sections of the rock require you to use your hands, with a short section that may be difficult for those who are prone to vertigo.

(3) At the top of Gozzi (716 m), there is a beautiful panoramic view from the top of this cliff. Descend via the same passage to the cottage.

(2) Start the climb to Punta Pastinaca (fairly steep slope and stony ground) just opposite.

(4) At the summit of Pastinaca (814 m), there is a magnificent panoramic view.

(2) After a break, descend via the same route you took on the way up to the San Chirgu Chapel car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 425 m - San Chirgu Chapel car park
  2. 1 : km 0.74 - alt. 562 m - Stay on the main trail during the climb
  3. 2 : km 2.68 - alt. 684 m - Caseddu, on the right towards Gozzi
  4. 3 : km 2.84 - alt. 701 m - Summit of Gozzi: panoramic view
  5. 4 : km 3.49 - alt. 802 m - Summit of Pastinaca: panoramic view
  6. S/E : km 6.68 - alt. 425 m - San Chirgu Chapel car park

Notes

To get to the starting point of the hike from Ajaccio, take the Cargèse road (RD81). At the Col du Listincone, turn right towards Appietto (the opposite if coming from the north!).
Just before reaching the village, take the small road that descends to the right (signposted: Chapelle San Chirgu) and ends at a dirt car park in front of the chapel.

In summer, remember to bring a hat, sunscreen and a bottle of water, as the trail is lined with low scrub, offering no protection from the sun and no water sources.

During the ascent of Gozzi, there is a short section that may cause discomfort to those prone to vertigo.

Worth a visit

(3) From the summit of Rocher de Gozzi, there is a superb panoramic view of the Gulf of Lava, then Ajaccio with its airport and the points of Isulella, Castagna and Capu di Muru, and the Gravone valley.

(4) From the summit of Punta Pastinaca, the view is completed to the east by the magnificent view of Monte Rotondo, Monte d'Oro and Monte Renoso, as well as the Gravone valley.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
patricklanglois
patricklanglois

Good evening, Louise
The hike we are discussing does not impose or suggest a circular route, which may have been mentioned by a few adventurous walkers.
Do not improvise and be wary of suggestions that are your responsibility alone if you follow them.
That said, if you want to give a mixed review because you went off the beaten track, that's fine, but the review should only refer to the route suggested on Visorando.
Have a great holiday if you're on holiday 😉

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Louise.w
Louise.w
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in May 2025.
High point: the views from the two peaks are magnificent (continue to the cross after point 3 for the panoramic view).
Weak points: the path is narrow and the vegetation at this time of year further reduces the passage. We followed the comments from 2017 and 2018 recommending continuing past the Pastinaca summit to make a circular loop: avoid this, as although the path is pleasant at first, it is then no longer maintained and you get lost in the scrub. We had to cut across and climb back down through the undergrowth to the path we took on the way up, scraping our arms and legs...
In conclusion: we do not recommend this hike, at least not at this time of year... Personally, we preferred the Ajaccio ridges and Mount Aragnascu, which also offer a beautiful view of Ajaccio Bay!

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Bernie24
Bernie24

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

One small downside was that, despite the GPS directions, we were unable to reach the viewpoint.
A local hiker pointed it out to us as we were coming back down.

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MAMAMYL
MAMAMYL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike, but be warned: it's quite steep from the start, but the view at the end is well worth the effort. Take care on the way back so you don't slip. Only do this hike in dry weather.

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Amataka
Amataka

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike done with two children (aged 10 and 12). Essential: wear walking shoes (at least shoes with good grip) as the first part is steep and unstable.
Magnificent panoramic view!

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patricklanglois
patricklanglois

Hello. Yes, you must take the same route as on the way there... That is what I specify in the description...

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Durpat
Durpat

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

Beautiful hike and superb views. The user reviews are very helpful, especially the advice to return from Punta via the same trail.
In short, this hike comes highly recommended.

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Himalaya1993
Himalaya1993
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike offering stunning views of the Rocher des Gozzi in Ajaccio. No signposts. Follow the path uphill after the barrier. Climb up to the cross on the rock. Continue on to the neighbouring peak. Easy to access and offering a magnificent 360-degree view of the entire region and its mountains. However, the path is often very narrow and it is easy to get scratched by the bushes and small shrubs. Not recommended: the return circular from the punta (2nd summit) because even if the path seems well marked at the beginning, it quickly disappears into the scrub, even if you follow the Visorando and Maps.Me app. Descend and retrace your steps back to the starting point.

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jllyonlyon69
jllyonlyon69

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

good evening and thank you for this lovely walk
i would just like to point out, unless I am mistaken, that the exact coordinates for the starting point (car park) are 42.010269°N and 8.768667°E. The coordinates given are for a bend above the junction you need to take.
This hike can be done as a circular route starting from the summit of Punta Pastinaca. This trail appears on the IGN map and allows you to rejoin the original route at 42.011678°N, 8.784037°E, which avoids having to descend via the same Pastinaca trail, which is steep and full of rocks.
i hope this has been helpful
happy hiking!

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anubis14
anubis14

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike to be avoided in high temperatures, otherwise pleasant with beautiful panoramic views.

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NathaliePlumail
NathaliePlumail

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The final ascent to the summit of Gozzi is tricky, especially in wet weather.
You can continue along the ridges after reaching the summit of Pastinaca. Descend back to the original trail after about 30 minutes.

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davesand60
davesand60

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Achieved with trained 10- and 12-year-old children, without any problems.
Recommended with proper footwear.

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VILARDELL
VILARDELL

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful short hike to warm up. Stunning view of Ajaccio Bay.
We couldn't find the passage through the fault that leads to the top of the rock.
A very beautiful hike that comes highly recommended

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jeannot15
jeannot15

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely short hike with superb views - After Punta Pastinaca, we continued on to Appietto to complete a circular route

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fzutterman
fzutterman

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 28, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The extension to Punta Pastinaca greatly increases the appeal of the hike, which for many people ends at Rocher des Gozzi. Beautiful view of the rock from above. Lovely hike.

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