The History of the Casale Olmia Estate

It was on a rocky peak, overlooking the entire surrounding valley, a strategic defense point and an ideal observatory for monitoring their lands, that the Maraninchi family built their castle in the 6th century. Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Vandals began raiding the coasts, forcing this noble family to retreat inland, fleeing massacres, looting, diseases, and slavery. During these tumultuous times, with no higher authority, plagued by Barbarian and Moorish invasions as well as internal clan wars, the Maraninchi declared themselves "counts" and named the place where they built their castle "u capu di e cuntee" (the county). The castle would later be razed by the Genoese. Other significant families, the Alfonsi and Dary, would later settle in other locations that would eventually form the village of Moncale. During the Corsican War of Independence, Moncale sided with Pasquale Paoli and was destroyed by the victorious French troops at Ponte-Novu in 1769. In June 1774, Moncale, having been rebuilt, still refused to submit to its oppressors and was once again pillaged and burned. "Nemo me necat" (no one defeats me) is the motto of Moncale.