Alata, Corse-du-Sud

Alata

A general view of Alata
Alata

Coordinates: 41°58′40″N 8°44′38″E / 41.9778°N 8.7439°E / 41.9778; 8.7439Coordinates: 41°58′40″N 8°44′38″E / 41.9778°N 8.7439°E / 41.9778; 8.7439
Country France
Region Corsica
Department Corse-du-Sud
Arrondissement Ajaccio
Canton Ajaccio
Intercommunality Pays Ajaccien
Government
  Mayor (20082020) Etienne Ferrandi
Area1 30.37 km2 (11.73 sq mi)
Population (2009)2 2,955
  Density 97/km2 (250/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 2A006 / 20167
Elevation 0–782 m (0–2,566 ft)
(avg. 450 m or 1,480 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Alata is a French commune of France in the Corse-du-Sud department in the Corsica region of France. It is within the metropolitan area of the capital Ajaccio.

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Alatais or 'Alataises[1]

Geography

Alata is 7 km north of the city of Ajaccio and the village is at an altitude of 400m. Alata borders the sea in the Gulf of Lava which is in the Gulf of Sagone. The geographic boundaries of the town are between the Monte Gozzi, the Gulf of Lava, La Punta - Pozzo di Borgo, Ajaccio, Villanova, Appietto and Afa (neighbouring communes) with its 3250 hectares of scrub and large forests of oak.

The commune can be accessed on road D61 north from Ajjacio. The D61 continues through the commune to the north and joins road D81. The D261 road branches west off the D61 to Villanova and the coast west of the commune. The D461 road turns east from the D61 in the commune to access the village of Alata where it terminates. The D81 road traverses the east side of the commune and accesses some of the villages there which have no direct connection with the village of Alata. The coastal portion of the commune is accessed by mountain roads leading off the D61.[2]

Other than Alata village there are a number of other villages in the commune. These are:

  • Marina di Lava (on the coast)
  • Carbinica
  • San Benedettu
  • Picchio
  • Balisaccia
  • Pietrosella
  • Tuscia
  • Truva
  • Rainuchiettu
  • Marchesi
  • Pruno
  • Bellaranda

There are also some built-up areas which have no names.[2]

Neighbouring communes and towns[2]

History

The first village was settled close to the Monticchi towers defense post and watchtower, now in ruins but still visible above the present village. Alata has been the seat of the Pozzo di Borgo family since the 16th century.

Administration

List of Successive Mayors of Alata[3]

From To Name Party Position
1830 Gieronimo Casalonga
1929 1943 Charles Marie Casa
1960 1989 Jérôme Paul Casalonga
1989 2006 François Dominic PRG
2006 2020 Etienne Ferrandi PRG

(Not all data is known)

Demography

In 2009, the commune had 2,955 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known through the population censuses conducted in the town since 1793. From the 21st century, a census of municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants is held every five years, unlike larger towns that have a sample survey every year.[Note 1]

Population Change (See database)
1793 1800 1806 1821 1831 1836 1841 1846 1851
- 374 311 365 366 413 364 367 359
1856 1861 1866 1872 1876 1881 1886 1891 1896
475 656 481 461 417 435 475 700 648
1901 1906 1911 1921 1926 1931 1936 1946 1954
656 644 643 563 510 552 549 425 462
1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2006 2010 -
391 410 452 1,132 2,077 2,462 2,785 2,955 -

Sources : Ldh/EHESS/Cassini until 1962, INSEE database from 1968 (population without double counting and municipal population from 2006)

Economy

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

The Château de la punta (19th century) is registered as an historical monument.[4]

Located 600 m above sea level, the chateau offers a panoramic view of Ajaccio up to the entrance of the Gulf of Porto over the surrounding mountains and over Monte Cinto, the highest mountain in Corsica (2706 m).[5]

A replication of one of the pavilions of the Tuileries Palace in Paris that burned down in 1871. When, in 1882, it was decided to completely destroy the Palace in Paris, Jerome Pozzo di Borgo, a great enemy of Napoleon I, acquired a large number of the stones to build a house on the family estate located on the heights of Ajaccio to show his supremacy.

The reconstruction of the castle took place from 1886 to 1894. Unfortunately the castle was burned on 7 August 1978 by a bush fire which spread to the roof causing serious damage. In 1991 the General Council of South Corsica decided on the acquisition of the Château de la Punta and its area of 40 hectares from the Pozzo di Borgo family.

The repair of the roof was completed in 1996 making the castle safe from further damage due to rain. The castle is not yet completely saved however.

The Golfe de Lava is a beautiful Gulf with a holiday village in the commune of Alata where, in 1985, three pieces of Roman gold were found in a fish by three friends. This was the starting point of a fabulous treasure hunt.

Religious heritage

The commune has one religious building that is registered as an historical monument:

Notable People linked to the commune

See also

External links

Notes and references

Notes

  1. At the beginning of the 21st century, the methods of identification have been modified by law No. 2002-276 of 27 February 2002 , the so-called "law of local democracy" and in particular Title V "census operations" which allow, after a transitional period running from 2004 to 2008, the annual publication of the legal population of the different French administrative districts. For municipalities with a population greater than 10,000 inhabitants, a sample survey is conducted annually, the entire territory of these municipalities is taken into account at the end of the period of five years. The first "legal population" after 1999 under this new law came into force on 1 January 2009 and was based on the census of 2006.

References

  1. Inhabitants of Corse-du-Sud (French)
  2. 1 2 3 Google Maps
  3. List of Mayors of France (French)
  4. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00099072 Chateau de la Punta (French)
  5. The Friends of the Chateau de la Punta (French)
  6. Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA2A000009 Pozzo di Borgo Funeral Chapel (French)
  7. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM2A000251 Tabernacle (French)
  8. Ministry of Culture, Palissy PM2A000058 Tabernacle (French)
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