Zigliara in the Taravo Valley (circular route via Cardo-Torgia and Vicu)

A beautiful circular route on a very shaded route, without any great difficulty. The trail leads us to the pretty little village of Cardo-Torgia, then to the hamlet of Vicu (Santa Maria Siché), where we can stroll among beautiful residences, including the castle of Vicu d'Ornano, before continuing on our way through oak undergrowth to the Col d'Urbichini and then descending to Zigliara.

Details

2535690
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.66 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 533 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 529 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 628 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 258 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Zigliara (20190)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 41.844315° / E 8.99304°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 4253OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in front of the ruined church at the entrance to the village (RD26A). The starting point is located here.

(S/E) To begin, climb the stairs opposite the church ruins, cross the RD26 and take the small path uphill (yellow sign indicating Torgia).

(1) Take the path through the woods opposite, avoiding the small track, and continue along the main trail (yellow markings).

(2) Cross the track and take the path opposite (yellow line).

(3) At the junction with a track, turn right onto this track (yellow line). After the left-hand bend, the route heads west then north-west and arrives at a wider track.

(4) Turn right towards Cardu-Torgia (yellow vertical sign) then continue on the secondary path before rejoining the wide track (yellow line) heading north.

(5) At the T-junction, go straight ahead, leaving the tarmac road connecting to the RT40 on your left. Continue along the path heading north then north-east.

(6) Be careful not to go too far along the wide track (markings not visible). At this intersection (Y-junction), turn left (there is a clearing) and climb the small path diagonally to the right. Follow the trail, crossing a stream without difficulty, and continue to the abandoned house of Foata (yellow line) before entering the small village of Cardo.

(7) Continue along the main road (D2B), pass the church and head towards the nearby hamlet of Vicu. Pass the small raised chapel on the left and reach a crossroads.

(8) Leave the D2B, which continues north, and turn right, passing in front of the beautiful 19th-century houses. Take the path opposite, in line with the street (yellow vertical sign). Go through the gate. The beginning of the path may be overgrown, but it quickly returns to normal. The path heads south and reaches an X-shaped crossroads.

(9) Cross the main track and take a small grassy trail opposite (yellow marker). Do not descend to the right towards an open area (wrong direction). Continue for about 400 metres.

(10) Leave the main track and follow the path to the right. Continue south to Col d'Urbichini.

(11) Continue straight ahead. At the X-shaped intersection, go through the barrier and turn right, then immediately left onto the path leading down to the village of Zigliara (yellow line).

(12) Take the street on the left to reach the D26 and cross the village of Zigliara to the right towards the south. Join the staircase leading down to the ruined church, the end point of the hike (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 428 m - Ruined church of Zigliara
  2. 1 : km 0.62 - alt. 466 m - Path through the woods opposite
  3. 2 : km 0.97 - alt. 496 m - Crossing the track
  4. 3 : km 1.54 - alt. 450 m - At the junction with a track, turn right.
  5. 4 : km 2.86 - alt. 285 m - Turn right towards Cardu.
  6. 5 : km 3.61 - alt. 265 m - T-junction, straight ahead
  7. 6 : km 4.66 - alt. 312 m - At the Y-junction, leave the main track.
  8. 7 : km 6.12 - alt. 446 m - Cardu, cross the village.
  9. 8 : km 6.94 - alt. 484 m - Vico
  10. 9 : km 7.97 - alt. 487 m - At the X-shaped crossroads, cross the track.
  11. 10 : km 8.49 - alt. 514 m - Leave the track and follow the path on the right.
  12. 11 : km 9.59 - alt. 624 m - Col d'Urbichini
  13. 12 : km 11.23 - alt. 471 m - Zigliara
  14. S/E : km 11.66 - alt. 429 m - Ruined church of Zigliara

Worth a visit

In the hamlet of Vicu, there are some beautiful 19th-century residences, including the 16th-century Palazzo di Sampiero, the manor house where the descendants of Renuccio d'Ornano still live at the beginning of the 21st century, and the small castle of Paolo Francesco d'Ornano.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 10 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
3.7 / 5
User 10249336

Deforestation work had changed the path, so we decided to turn back. The steep incline made it impossible to find our bearings.

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Pierrick44
Pierrick44

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, shaded walk with no major difficulties. The downside: no views of the valleys to break up the monotony of the walk. Best enjoyed during hot weather.

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Michel20
Michel20

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Be careful in certain places, villages and elsewhere, as yellow markings have disappeared. Check the Visorando trail. Otherwise, well marked overall.

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lenouh974
lenouh974

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A pleasant route, mostly through woodland or shaded cattle tracks. Bucolic but fairly monotonous overall, worth doing if you're passing through the area but not worth a special detour in my opinion. The prettiest part is between points 5 and 8.
Description and map are very reliable.

Bar at the finish in Zigliara for a well-deserved Pietra!
Circular loop completed in 4 hours.

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Jonat
Jonat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A walk that is 95% in the shade, with beautiful paths from another era for those who love trees.

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Xav&Marie
Xav&Marie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A superb, shaded walk, ideal for warming up. We completed it in 3 hours. Easy to follow signposting. We recommend it.

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bettinalg
bettinalg

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike through varied landscapes, passing through small hamlets. At the end of May, the trail had not been cleared between points 6 and 7, but it was still possible to pass (wear trousers). Beautiful old houses in Vicu.
Well-shaded route.

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Filetta
Filetta

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A short, shaded walk to enjoy in mid-season.

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Fredagnes
Fredagnes

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, well-shaded hike with no real difficulty, allowing you to visit some lovely spots.
The markings are clearly visible except between markers 6 and 8, where the Visorando app came in very handy with the downloaded map and GPS.

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fantom-as
fantom-as

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Perfect as a short route.

You'd have to be really bad to get lost with this perfectly designed route.

Open your eyes and marvel at the spectacle as you complete the circular route.

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Azdty
Azdty

Overall rating : 1.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Route interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Very busy route : No

Uninteresting hike, poorly maintained trails, poorly marked, inaccurate hiking time

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