Bastelicaccia

Bastelicaccia (French pronunciation: [bastelikatʃ(j)a]; Corsican: A Bastirgaccia) is a commune in the Corse-du-Sud department of France on the island of Corsica.^[3]

Bastelicaccia
Commune
Location of Bastelicaccia
Bastelicaccia Show map of France Bastelicaccia Show map of Corsica
Coordinates: 41°55′23″N 8°49′45″E
Country	France
Region	Corsica
Department	Corse-du-Sud
Arrondissement	Ajaccio
Canton	Ajaccio-5
Intercommunality	Celavu-Prunelli
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Antoine Ottavi[1]
Area 1	18.21 km2 (7.03 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	4,258
• Density	230/km2 (610/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	2A032 /20129
Elevation	7–888 m (23–2,913 ft) (avg. 30 m or 98 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Bastilcacci or Bastelicacciais and Bastelicacciaises.^[4]

Geography

Bastelicaccia is 11 kilometres (7 mi) to the east of the centre of Ajaccio and immediately to the east of Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport. It was created in 1865 between the rivers Gravona and Prunelli. The highest point in the commune is Monte Aragnasco. Access to the commune is by Route nationale N196 which passes through the south of the commune from the airport in the west to Cauro in the east. The D3 branches off the N196 at the south-western edge of the commune and goes north-east through the commune to Ocana. Access to the village is by the D303 which branches from the D3 in the commune and goes north to the village then continues north to join the D1 west of Cuttoli-Corticchiato. Apart from the main village there are the villages of Colombina, Macina, Bottacina, Cagile, Casaccia, Mascarone, Cuara, Funtanacciu, Mascardaccia, Suaralta, Forcala, and Pisciatello. The commune is hilly with many villages, farms, and some forests.^[5][6]

One of the traditional cheeses of Corsica is called bastelicacciu after the commune. It is produced in the lower valleys of the Gravona and Prunelli.^[7]

History

On the 18th century land survey Bastelicaccia was better known as Bastélica-Communes. It became populated from the beginning of the 19th century.

With a land area of 1820 hectares, the population of about 800 in Bastelica village considered that it was easier to settle in the plains for most farmers as the lowland climate was better in winter. So, in summer, there would be an annual migration back to Bastelica village. As a result, the Chief Surveyor advised the creation of the commune of Bastelicaccia.

Bastelicaccia is part of the Canton of Ajaccio-5. The Canton also includes Alata, Villanova and part of Ajaccio.^[8]

Bastelicaccia has evolved at a rapid pace due to the proximity of the regional capital and its urban sprawl.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors^[9]

From	To	Name	Party
	1866	M. Seta
1866	1870	Joseph Benielli
1871	1871	François Porri
1871	1876	Jean-Pierre Frassati
1876	1878	Innocent Valle
1878	1900	Dominique Valle
1900	1908	Jean-Toussaint Ottavi
1908	1919	Baptiste Paoletti
1925	1930	Vincent Vincenti
1930	1935	Joseph Vincenti
1935	1959	Henri Antonetti
1959	1977	Pierre Benielli
1977	1995	Augustin Gambarelli
2001	2026	Antoine Ottavi	DVG

Demography

In 2017 the commune had 3,983 inhabitants.

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1866 418 —     1872 200 −11.56% 1876 514 +26.61% 1881 506 −0.31% 1886 535 +1.12% 1891 570 +1.28% 1896 750 +5.64% 1901 769 +0.50% 1906 843 +1.85% 1911 783 −1.47% 1921 715 −0.90% 1926 718 +0.08% 1931 729 +0.30%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1936 753 +0.65% 1946 789 +0.47% 1954 677 −1.90% 1962 705 +0.51% 1968 779 +1.68% 1975 887 +1.87% 1982 1,504 +7.84% 1990 2,072 +4.09% 1999 2,769 +3.27% 2007 3,185 +1.76% 2012 3,518 +2.01% 2017 3,983 +2.51%
Source: EHESS[10] and INSEE[11]

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The commune has a very large number of houses that are registered as historical monuments.^[12] As well as the houses the commune also has a number of other sites that are registered as historical monuments:

• A Bread Oven at Cagili (18th century)^[13]
• The Prunelli Inn at Pisciatella (19th century)^[14]
• The old Primary School at Fontanaccio (1882)^[15]
• The old Primary School at Pedocchio (1882)^[16]

Religious heritage

The Church of Saint Michel (19th century) is registered as an historical monument.^[17] The Church contains a Statue: Christ on the Cross (18th century) which is registered as an historical object.^[18]

See also

• Communes of the Corse-du-Sud department