Arbellara

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.

Arbellara
Commune
A general view of Arbellara
Location of Arbellara
Arbellara Show map of France Arbellara Show map of Corsica
Coordinates: 41°40′58″N 8°59′27″E / 41.6828°N 8.9908°E / 41.6828; 8.9908
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^[1]
Area ^1	11.29 km^2 (4.36 sq mi)
Population  (Jan. 2020)^[2]	159
• Density	14/km^2 (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 km^2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Arbellarais or Arbellaraises in French.^[3]

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.^[4]

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^[5]

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

In 2017 the commune had 156 inhabitants.

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^[6] and INSEE^[7]

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) ^[8]
• The Spin'a Cavallu Genoese Bridge (16th century), ^[9] 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.^[10] The Church contains many items that are registered as historical objects:

• An Exhibition (19th century) ^[11]
• A Sunburst Monstrance (19th century) ^[12]
• A Chalice with Paten (19th century) ^[13]
• Stations of the Cross (19th century) ^[14]
• The Furniture in the Church (19th century) ^[15]
• A Sunburst Monstrance (19th century) ^[16]
• A Chalice with Paten (1) (19th century) ^[17]
• A Chalice with Paten (2) (19th century) ^[18]
• A Statue: Christ on the Cross (19th century) ^[19]
• A Statue: Salvator Mundi (19th century) ^[20]
• A Statue: Saint Roch (19th century) ^[21]
• A Statue: Saint Sebastian (19th century) ^[22]
• A Statue: Virgin and child (19th century) ^[23]
• A Statue: Saint Gavin (19th century) ^[24]

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

References

1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
2. "Populations légales 2020". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 29 December 2022.
3. Inhabitants of Corse-du-Sud (in French)
4. Google Maps
5. List of Mayors of France
6. Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Arbellara, EHESS (in French).
7. Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
8. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA2A000734 Fortified House 4IA2A000731 Notable's House 5IA2A001255 House 7IA2A000732 House 8IA2A001215 House 9IA2A001216 House 10IA2A001217 House 12IA2A001218 House 17IA2A001256 House 18IA2A000733 House 19IA2A001257 Notable's House 20IA2A001219 House 21IA2A000741 House 29IA2A000727 Houses (in French) 
9. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA2A001220PA00099073PA00099119 Spin'a Cavallu Genoese Bridge (in French) 
10. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA2A000729 Parish Church of Saint Sebastian (in French) 
11. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000421 Exhibition (in French)
12. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000400 Sunburst Monstrance (in French)
13. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000373 Chalice with Paten (in French)
14. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000392 Stations of the Cross (in French) 
15. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000837 Furniture in the Church (in French) 
16. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000836 Sunburst Monstrance (in French) 
17. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000834 Chalice with Paten (1) (in French) 
18. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000835 Chalice with Paten (2) (in French) 
19. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000833 Statue: Christ on the Cross (in French) 
20. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000832 Statue: Salvator Mundi (in French) 
21. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000831 Statue: Saint Roch (in French) 
22. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000830 Statue: Saint Sebastian (in French) 
23. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000829 Statue: Virgin and child (in French) 
24. Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM2A000828 Statue: Saint Gavin (in French) 

External links

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

 

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