Notably different architecture in Sartène, Corsica from mainland France or indeed any of the other bits of off-shore France that I’ve seen. The Genoese style prevails in buildings from before the Battle of Ponte Novu (1769). The shutters in the Italian style and the iron balconies persist after the defeat but French architecture becomes fashionable with the new government, including versions of the Haussmann style.
Moving away from the centre of Sartène, the reliance on granite-built architecture becomes apparent; there’s much ingenuity in adapting the squared-off blocks to the irregular hilly location but the weight of the material and lack of span are clear limitations.
Out in the Alta Roca countryside there are countless suburban villas or bungalows build with modern preformed block with shallow tile roofing that blend charmingly well with the sunset but otherwise pollute the rural landscape.
