Arbellara

Arbellara
Commune
A general view of Arbellara
Location of Arbellara
Arbellara Arbellara
Coordinates: 41°40′58″N 8°59′27″E
Country	France
Region	Corsica
Department	Corse-du-Sud
Arrondissement	Sartène
Canton	Sartenais-Valinco
Intercommunality	CC Sartenais Valinco Taravo
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Marie-Antoinette Rotily Forcioli-Carrier
Area 1	11.29 km2 (4.36 sq mi)
Population  (2021)	155
• Density	14/km2 (36/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	2A018 /20110
Elevation	23–640 m (75–2,100 ft) (avg. 350 m or 1,150 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Arbellara (French pronunciation: [aʁbɛlaʁa]; in Corsican Arbiddali, pronounced [ar.bi.ˈɖːaː.li]) is a commune in the Corse-du-Sud department of France on the island of Corsica. It is part of the micro-region of Viggiano in the north of the Rocca region.

Geography

Green Valley in spring.

Arbellara is located some 6 km east of Propriano and 2 km south of Fozzano. Access to the commune is by road D19 from Viggianello in the west which passes through the village then continues north to Fozzano. The D119 road goes south from the village then turns south-west to join the D69 which goes north-east then north to Loreto-di-Tallano. Apart from the village there is also the hamlet of Acoravo in the south-east of the commune at the intersection of the D119 and D69. The commune is mostly mountainous and forested.

The southern border of the commune is formed by the Rizzanese river which flows west to the Mediterranean Sea south of Propriano.

History

• In 1583 the commune was pillaged and the inhabitants massacred by the Turks.
• After reprisals by the villagers, it was again pillaged by the Turks in 1584.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors

From	To	Name	Party
		Pascal Giustiniani
1983	1995	Jacques Rotily Forcioli	DVD
1995	2008	Michèle Rotily Forcioli	DVD
2008	2026	Marie-Antoinette Forcioli-Carrier	DVD

Demography

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Arbellarais or Arbellaraises in French.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1800 230 —     1806 239 +0.64% 1821 284 +1.16% 1831 311 +0.91% 1836 300 −0.72% 1841 311 +0.72% 1846 332 +1.32% 1851 303 −1.81% 1856 327 +1.54% 1861 366 +2.28% 1866 353 −0.72% 1872 420 +2.94% 1876 508 +4.87% 1881 472 −1.46% 1886 412 −2.68% 1891 442 +1.42% 1896 393 −2.32% 1901 471 +3.69%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1906 478 +0.30% 1911 596 +4.51% 1921 527 −1.22% 1926 521 −0.23% 1931 597 +2.76% 1936 605 +0.27% 1946 413 −3.75% 1954 254 −5.90% 1962 169 −4.97% 1968 162 −0.70% 1975 153 −0.81% 1982 137 −1.57% 1990 120 −1.64% 1999 111 −0.86% 2007 133 +2.29% 2012 143 +1.46% 2017 156 +1.76%
Source: EHESS and INSEE

Culture and heritage

Arbellara mountain overlooking the valley

Civil heritage

The commune has many buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

• Houses (16th-19th century)
• The Spin'a Cavallu Genoese Bridge (16th century), a hump-backed bridge on the Rizzanèse river.
• It has been used as a special stage in the Tour de Corse.

Religious heritage

The Parish Church of Saint Sebastian (18th century) is registered as an historical monument. The Church contains many items that are registered as historical objects:

• An Exhibition (19th century)
• A Sunburst Monstrance (19th century)
• A Chalice with Paten (19th century)
• Stations of the Cross (19th century)
• The Furniture in the Church (19th century)
• A Sunburst Monstrance (19th century)
• A Chalice with Paten (1) (19th century)
• A Chalice with Paten (2) (19th century)
• A Statue: Christ on the Cross (19th century)
• A Statue: Salvator Mundi (19th century)
• A Statue: Saint Roch (19th century)
• A Statue: Saint Sebastian (19th century)
• A Statue: Virgin and child (19th century)
• A Statue: Saint Gavin (19th century)

Environmental heritage

• The Marteau et l'Enclume (Hammer and Anvil), rocks dominating the heights of the commune.

Culinary Specialities

• Present day: sheep cheese, lamb milk.
• In the past: olive oil (oil press), vineyards (wine presses in homes).
• Blessing of the houses on Holy Saturday: the priest is offered eggs, ham, and sheep cheeses.

See also

• Communes of the Corse-du-Sud department

External links

• Arbellara on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website (in French)