Ocana

Geography

History

The village of Ocana settled with the whole beginning of the XVIIe century, following invasions. Villagers occupying the area of the " then; GIGLIU " (low) gathered on the current site.

The houses, small and low, following one another the ones the others then formed a small hamlet which grows with the passing of years.

Under the protection of a small bastion at the top of Aresi (rock facing the village) where still visible bases make face with the sea and the valley of Prunelli.

Spanish mercenaries and their families occupying the places at that time, according to certain assumptions, would have given the name of the village of Ocana, which one finds close to Madrid, and in South America (areas occupied by Spanish conquistadors).

All the houses of the time included/understood, because of the slope of the site, one rez-of roadway inferior which was used as cellar, and one rez-of roadway superior, livable part generally made up of a large patch of land beaten with in its center " U Fuconu " , place where one made fire and the meals. The remainder of the house was in boards of chestnuts. Above Fuconu, the drier with sweet chestnuts was, occupying a good portion of the attic. The floors were made out of stone of size. The mortar out of loam, was exclusively found on the spot.

The partitions, when there was, were made bricks of loam dried with the sun. All the woodwork consisted of wood of chestnut (beam, floors…). Even the nails were manufactured by the local blacksmith. The tiles also on the spot manufactured and were cooked in furnaces " I furnacci " , to treat clay.

Ocana practically lived in autarky. All the needs were satisfied (corn, corn, vegetables olive-trees, chestnuts, vines) and pets (pigs, goats ewe, bovines, poultry, asses and horses) without counting wild boars, stags, wild goat's milk cheeses and other birds which the art of hunting got.

One still finds some baker's ovens, in which the inhabitants in turn came to make cook their bread for the week.

With the bread, the olive oil was the base of food and one can still see an oil press (almost in ruin but of time). The olive-tree pushes well in Ocana, there were of it several thousands of feet and that on all the commune. In spite of the current abandonment of the gardens of the area, that the maquis enriches and that the fires devastate, one can note good number of pieces of vines, because Ocana was a village with the important production of wine.

After corn and the grape, the sweet chestnut was a very important complement in food ocanaise. Chestnuts known as " tree of life " filled all the ravines where a source ran, of Bastelica and throughout the valley, the sweet chestnut is queen. Fresh or roasted, pulp or in flour, the men and the animals do not weary themselves any.

The breeding was also important, each family had several domestic animals amongst other things goats for their milk and consequently their cheeses and " Brocciu " of local consumption.

The pigs levelled almost all the meals and the pork-butchery remains a sure value still to date, as well in our area as in all Corsica.

The large fire of September 1943

Ocana was on several occasions the prey of the flames in particular in 1868,1907 and 1927, but never of fire the disastrous consequences of that of September 1943 had.

Following a horrible dryness of the maquis and, German troops, launching by their aviators of the plates flamers a little everywhere, in a wink, the flames devoured hectares of maquis. Also following this catastrophe, the commune of Ocana, one the most touched of of Corsica lost 344 cattle, 6302 fruit trees, 210 hectares of the maquis, 36 maisonnettes, but most deplorable the death of villagers missing in the flames. Unfortunately, this fire monster was to have reflected macabre, especially by causing the sinister event of August 18th, 1944.

The crumbling of 1944

Never undoubtedly, since the foundation of Ocana, the village was tested, shaken and thrown in the absolute consternation. Towards 15heures, large black and opaque clouds were amoncelaient. The thunder thundered without répis. Flashes, broad like sheaves, furrowed the airs, on the slope of the mountain of the " saint Pierre " , and seemed to dart their arrows on the terrified village.

Suddenly the houses like were shaken in their base. Enormous blocks of granite broke top of the mountain entrechoquant and digging broad ditches of each with dimensions village, destroying all on their passage trees, houses… Two deep cracks divided the country in three, and however made the village, so vain, unrecognizable!

An enormous block, after having tumbled down of the mount in a vertiginous race, settled in the place of the bar of the village. Today, this block is always in its place and we can read, registered in gold letters the date of the disaster.

In spite of these tests, which cost the life of eight people, the villagers knew to preserve their so pretty village with mountainside, with its stone-built houses its mills, its small narrow and so picturesque lanes and the authentic and cordial reception of antan.

Administration

|- | align=right| March 2001 || Philippe Muraccioli || PCF || Mayor

Demography

Places and monuments

Personalities related to the commune

See too

Common of the Corse-du-Sud

External bonds

the official site of the commune of Ocana

Ocana on the site of the national geographical Institute

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