San Cesaro – Chiesa Nera – San Michele from Murato

de fr

This lovely walk, starting from Murato in Haute-Corse, begins near the Church of the Annunciation and climbs up to the higher parts of the village. The route takes you to the Chiesa Nera, of which only ruins remain, and to the Church of San Michele di Murato, one of the most beautiful churches in Corsica. This Pisan-style church, situated in the commune of Piève, offers a splendid view of Mount Bevinco. Along the way, you’ll enjoy a beautiful panorama of Saint-Florent Bay.

Details

n°110204813
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
–
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.68 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,257 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,234 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,241 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,289 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Murato (20239)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 42.57891° / E 9.32855°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 4348OT, 4349OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather
    Discover Visorando Premium
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Description of the walk

Enter the village of Murato and park near the town hall and the Church of the Annunciation.

(S/E) Start your walk by turning right onto Piazza Pasquale Paoli. Follow the road to the left until you reach the bend leading to the sewage treatment works.

(1) Just before the bend, leave the road and take the path on your left. Follow the River Bevinco until you reach the Church of San Michele.

(2) Take the road to the cemetery, then follow the path on the left until you reach Chemin di u Vergherete.

(3) Turn right at the junction, then left to leave the main road. Carry on straight ahead until you reach the San Cesaro Chapel.

(4) Carry on and turn left, heading due south. Pass Salicelli and you’ll come to a fork in the road.

(5) Turn right and head towards the ruins of the Chiesa Nera.

(6) Retrace your steps back to the fork in the road.

(5) Follow the path on the right which joins the D5.

(7) Continue left along this road until you reach the Croix aux Quatre Vents.

(8) Leave the road and take a path, before rejoining it further on.

(9) Cross the departmental road carefully and follow the track which joins a street; continue straight on.

(10) Go round the village on the left and follow Rue Chassu Di U Peru, which leads to the car park in front of the Church of the Annunciation (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,667 ft - Car park in front of the Church of the Annunciation - Fontaine de Murato
  2. 1 : mi 0.26 - alt. 1,473 ft - Road exit at the sewage treatment works - Bevinco (fleuve)
  3. 2 : mi 0.94 - alt. 1,549 ft - Église Saint-Michel (Murato)
  4. 3 : mi 1.35 - alt. 1,749 ft - Chemin di u Vergherete
  5. 4 : mi 2.76 - alt. 1,722 ft - San Cesaro Chapel - Chapelle San Césaro
  6. 5 : mi 4.2 - alt. 2,129 ft - T-junction. Return
  7. 6 : mi 4.35 - alt. 2,165 ft - Chiesa Nera
  8. 7 : mi 5.16 - alt. 1,772 ft - D5 junction
  9. 8 : mi 5.69 - alt. 1,745 ft - Cross of the Four Winds
  10. 9 : mi 6.02 - alt. 1,729 ft - Crossing the D5
  11. 10 : mi 6.41 - alt. 1,729 ft - T-junction
  12. S/E : mi 6.68 - alt. 1,667 ft - Car park in front of the Church of the Annunciation - Fontaine de Murato

Notes

The village of Murato is a long, narrow village with few car parks; some of the slopes can be quite steep.

Worth a visit

Other walks in the area

Walking A story of stones and water in Murato

Visorando Member
Histoire de pierres et d'eau à Murato
↔4.17 mi ↗+771 ft ↘-768 ft ◔2h 35 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Murato (Haute-Corse)
The village of Murato invites you to discover a trail called Histoire de pierres et d'eau (History of Stones and Water). It is a tourist circuit between village and nature where you can discover Murato Supranu (upper part of the village) and Murato Sottanu. You will pass through narrow streets, old houses, churches, chapels, fountains, pagliaghji (straw huts), wash houses and bread ovens. This route is not intended to be a long hike, but it has the merit of allowing you to discover the past and can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Walking Circular walks from Murato via San Michele and Teppa di Lucciana

Association / Club / Walk leader
↔6.22 mi ↗+955 ft ↘-961 ft ◔3h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Murato (Haute-Corse)
Here is a new route starting from the Church of Saint Michael in Murato, which quickly takes the walker to discover the ‘Queen’s Rock – Teppa di Luciana’. The archaeological excavations of this ‘enormous rocky chaos’ are described in the ‘Places to See’ section. On the descent towards the coastal river Bevinco, traces of the area’s agricultural and pastoral past can be seen. In and around the village, there are magnificent historic buildings , including the 12th-century Pisan church , other churches and chapels, as well as restored old structures such as ovens, wash houses and fountains. On the southern outskirts, heading towards the Col de Bigorno, renovated Genoese bridges allow you to cross the Bevinco. An old ice house can be seen beside the Strada di Bigorno, which you’ll take on the return journey. Just before crossing the Pont Neuf, there is a picnic area for walkers. Finally, on arrival, you can visit the Church of San Michele, a12th-century Romanesque building in the Pisan style.

Walking Murato loop, nature and heritage

Association / Club / Walk leader
↔6.46 mi ↗+928 ft ↘-925 ft ◔3h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Murato (Haute-Corse)
This is a lovely family walk around an exceptional village. Not only because of the natural areas you pass through and the scenery they offer, but also because of the history of the place and the preservation of its heritage. Or quite simply because of the quality of life that Muratu, in the Corsican language, offers its residents, whether they are permanent residents or just passing through. This impression is confirmed by the condition of the buildings – from the renovated old ones to the most recent – as well as by the variety and quality of the shops. Along the route, walkers will discover, to the south, the plateaus with their rich agro-pastoral history and the ruins of the San Frusulu chapel, which has recently been restored. After a short stretch over the heights of the village of Piève , followed by a descent through the maquis, you reach the banks of the small coastal river ‘the Bevincu’, spanned by its Genoese bridges. The village centre offers a chance to appreciate Murato’s significant vernacular heritage. This route is strongly discouraged from 15 July to 31 October 2026 See practical information

Walking Circular Salinelle - Giru di Salinelle, in Nebbiu

Association / Club / Walk leader
Boucle de Salinelle - Giru di Salinelle, dans le Nebbiu
↔8.28 mi ↗+1,827 ft ↘-1,831 ft ◔5h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Vallecalle (Haute-Corse)
Vallecalle occupies a strategic location amongst the villages of the Upper Nebbiu.The suggested route takes walkers to Murato and then Rapale, with a return to Vallecalle made possible by the recent reopening of the Santo Pietro Vecchio mule track.In these places steeped in history, the pagliaghji (haylofts) bear witness to the region’s once-thriving agricultural and pastoral activity. The abundance and quality of the Romanesque architectural remains remind us of our ancestors’ devotion to the sacred.The cool stretches under oak and chestnut groves, followed by open terrain, and the superb panoramic views add to the appeal of this route.Visits to the villages, rich in heritage monuments and traditional crafts, are well worth a detour. Walking times should be adjusted accordingly. This route is strongly advised against from 15 July to 31 October 2026 See practical information

Walking Rapale and Pieve circular loop

Association / Club / Walk leader
Boucle Rapale et Pieve
↔4.06 mi ↗+1,010 ft ↘-988 ft ◔2h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rapale (Haute-Corse)
Created on the initiative of the municipalities of Rapale, Pieve and Sorio, the ‘Between the Profane and the Sacred’ route passes through these three beautiful villages in the Upper Nebbiu region, which have preserved and showcased a heritage that is an absolute must-see.Communal footpaths, mule tracks, Romanesque chapels, menhir statues, a church with an off-centre bell tower, plus a route through chestnut and oak woods, making it suitable for walking in all seasons.This description is not a copy-and-paste of the certified route but a variant split into two circular loops that follow its route. The idea is to make the route more accessible by reducing the distance and duration, thereby allowing more time to explore the heritage. This is therefore the first circular loop. This route is strongly advised against from 15 July to 31 October 2026 See practical information

Walking The Memory Trail: path at Rutali - Trà aghje è Pagliaghji

Visorando Member
Le Parcours de la mémoire : sentier à Rutali - Trà aghje è Pagliaghji
↔4.21 mi ↗+335 ft ↘-338 ft ◔2h 15 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Rutali (Haute-Corse)
This is a route with little elevation gain in the mountains above Rutali, ideal for a family walk. In the middle of the scrubland, there are arbutus trees, oaks and a few chestnut trees. You quickly find yourself isolated in wild nature at an altitude of 600 metres with views of the sea to the east and west. We are facing the base of Cap Corse.

Walking Ridge path to Monte Torriccella above Rutali

Visorando Member
↔6.43 mi ↗+1,522 ft ↘-1,496 ft ◔4h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Rutali (Haute-Corse)
This hike will allow you to admire the views of both seas.

Walking Circular route via the Chiesa Nera

Visorando Member
Boucle par la Chiesa Nera
↔3.59 mi ↗+945 ft ↘-945 ft ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Piève (Haute-Corse)
Pleasant circular walk passing the ruins of a 13th-century chapel, with lovely views of Cap Corse, the Gulf of Saint Florent and the Tenda Mountains.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.