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San Francescu Oletta

Oletta is one of the most important villages of the region Nebbiu located on the eastern coast of Corsica, between the Cap Corse and Balagne. In the history of Corsica, Oletta holds a special place through the establishment of a Franciscan monastery in the plain. Saint François would come to the island to spread the word.
There are traces of this convent since 1260, is considered the third of the island. The present building dates from 1390. It has 25 cells for 18 brothers.
San Francescu was central to the struggle for national independence. The brothers ran the campaign to raise the people against Genoa and France. "Consultes" (elected assembly) held them between 1745 and 1758. Pasquale Paoli it created a national printing "Stamperia della Verita. In this printing will be published as the work of Father Salvini "Giustificazione della revoluzione di Corsica. The national newspaper will be printed since 1764.
The French landed at St Florent and take the convent in 1768. From there the offensive in 1769 against French troops who Paoli found its epilogue in the defeat of national troops in Ponte Novu May 8, 1769.

Who knows the story of Antigone recognize the fate of Maria Gentile. On the convent wall plaque (WS) recalls the martyrdom of 5 patriots, beaten and deprived of Christian burial September 25, 1769. One was convicted of her fiance. Maria went to night at the place of execution to give him a Christian burial despite the ban. She escaped death, but decided to continue the fight of her fiance's brother marrying the man disappeared. The ruins of the house of Maria Gentile is still visible on the hill Monticellu to Poghju Oletta.