Col de Lava
On both sides of Porto, the coastal road D81 goes through
some very remarkable scenery. On the the north side there is
first a little 500ft summit, that threads its way between
walls, rocks and sea, then a long scenic traverse over Col
de la Croix/Palmrella.
But this page is about leaving Porto to the south and a
short but scenic climb through Les Salanches to the town
Piana, which likes to advertise the fact that it is on the
Unesco world heritage list.
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1.(40m,00.0km)
START-END NORTH: jct D84-D81,east of Porto
2.(450m,11.2km) Piana
3.(460m,11.7km) turnoff on right to Belvedere de
Saliccio; profile stays on D81
4.(480m,12.0km) TOP Col de Lava
5.(25m,24.0km) START-END SOUTH: low point, several km
before reaching Cargese
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 Approaches
From East. If you don't look closely,
Porto is really just a collection of modern hotels and
campgrounds around the relict of an old coastal tower, and a
beach section. The setting looks like the perfect hideout. As
far as interesting buildings are concerned, the most interesting
things I could find were two almost supermarkets. Even the
initial climb, leaving Porto is just a hill in the forest.
What comes after that is best left to pictures. But it
involves a lot of craggy rocks, walled in turns, tourists
stopping their cars to walk the road instead of driving, and
postcard sales. This super photogenic stretch is only a few km
long, and then the road enters Piana, a collection of houses and
hotels, a safe distance from the cliffs to the ocean, but with
view on the steep opposite side of the sea, and snowy peaks
above and behind. The summit of Col de Lava is reached just as
you leave this town and see the antennas on the Belvedere
de Saliccio s(u).
From West. (described downwards)
All the tourists are on the other side. The coastal views are
much more of a pastoral nature on this side, grazing cows,
forested hills receding from the ocean. Gone are the wild cliffs
and red colors.
A Dayride with this point as intermediate summit
is on page: Col de Sevi
History-Cycling: The Tour de France came through here
the first time in 2013, on a 145km stage between Ajaccio and
Calvi. I wonder if they noticed that there was a hill here, or
if they noticed the views.
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