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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name                   = Rapale
|commune status         = [[Communes of France|Commune]]
|image                  = Rapale-Mairie.jpg
|caption                = The town hall in Rapale
|image coat of arms     = 
|arrondissement         = Calvi
|canton                 = Biguglia-Nebbio
|INSEE                  = 2B257
|postal code            = 20258
|mayor                  = Jean-Claude Fondacci de Paoli<ref>{{cite web|title=Répertoire national des élus: les maires|url=https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/2876a346-d50c-4911-934e-19ee07b0e503|website=data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises|date=2 December 2020|language=fr}}</ref>
|term                   = 2020&ndash;2026
|intercommunality       = 
|coordinates            = {{coord|42.5917|9.3042|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m            = 400
|elevation min m        = 16
|elevation max m        = 687
|area km2               = 10.16
|population             = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date        = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes   = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}

'''Rapale''' is a commune in the French [[Departments of France|Department]] of [[Haute-Corse]] on the island of [[Corsica]].

== Geography ==

Rapale is located in southern [[Nebbio]]. It is one of the 14 municipalities making up the [[Canton of Biguglia-Nebbio]]. Its territory stretches from the slopes of Monte Pietesco to the south, spread around the village and continues with a long strip led North North-west to the eastern entrance of the [[Agriates]].

To the east of the creek Fornello which rises on the slopes of Monte Pietesco and took the name of Brook Salinelle after its confluence with the creek Cicendolle, serves as territorial boundary with [[Vallecalle]] to the north the ford of Ilusone. Hence, this limit goes towards north-west, joins the river [[Aliso (river)|Aliso]] that runs for about a kilometer around the locality Forconi, then took the North to Punta Pizzolaccia and then rejoined the course of Aliso about 400 meters, crossing the plains to the D81 and the first hills south of Monte Agriates Revincu ([[Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda]]).

To the west, the Monte Guppio "horse" in [[Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda]] and Rapale, limitations join the plain of Aliso the is, at a place called Pilocaccia, where it leave South-South direction is a quasi-straight up the hill of Santo Pietro Vecchio, follow a low line ridge encircling the town of North-west to south.

Thus compound, its territory has varied landscapes, from the heights of the village that are green but not through the wooded village of fresh nest, the fertile plain of the [[Aliso (river)|Aliso]] until the first hills of the arid [[desert Agriates]] owned. Knowing that a small portion of these hills is in the area north of Rifle Range Casta.

=== Habitat ===
'''Rapale''' is a village located at the same altitude (350 meters) than its neighbors [[Sorio]] [[Pieve]] and [[Vallecalle]], all built high up on defensive sites. It is situated on a ridge on the side of a mountain whose highest peaks on the town does not exceed 700 meters. Village "balcony" overlooking the plain of [[Oletta]] called  ''Conca d'Oro''.

The frame is old, with austere facades of the houses without balconies, roofs covered in slate and alternating red tiles.

=== Access ===
The D62 serves the village. This road leads east to the D81, the latter leading to [[Saint-Florent, Haute-Corse|Saint-Florent]] and [[Ile Rousse]]. It connects the [[RN 193]] from the roundabout at Casatorra [[Biguglia]] to [[Route number|Route D81]] (eastern entrance Agriates) and passes Col Santo Stefano, strategic crossroad serving both [[Oletta]] [[Biguglia]]/[[Bastia]] Rapale and [[Murato, Haute-Corse|Murato]]. 
<br /> The D62 is the Corniche road in Upper Nebbiu. It passes through the villages of [[Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda]], [[San-Gavino-di-Tenda]] [[Sorio]] [[Pieve]] Rapale. It runs through the town of [[Murato, Haute-Corse|Murato]] and the D162 is a ramp that saves the village Murato at a place called San Michele.

In the north, at the eastern entrance Agriates, the town is bisected by the D81 road.

==Population==
{{Historical populations
|align=left|
1962|94|
1968|122|
1975|116|
1982|108|
1990|102|
1999|131|
2008|157|
}}

== History ==

=== Modern era ===
1789: the [[pieve]] of [[Bevinco]] is replaced by the Township Murato. The latter is composed of common [[Murato, Haute-Corse|Murato]] [[Pieve]] Rapale and [[Rutali]].

1839: Prosper Mérimée visit the [[Nebbio]] 1 and 2 October. The first day he went on horseback to see "three curious churches" <ref>Notes from a trip to Corsica by Prosper Merimee - April 5, 1840</ref> San Michele [[Murato, Haute-Corse|Murato]], San Nicolao (Nera Chiesa) to [[Pieve]] and San Cesariu to Rapale.

1971-1973: The new [[Township High Nebbio]] is created with the merger of the former townships of imposed [[Lama (Haute-Corse)|Lama]] Murato and [[Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda]].

==Sights==
[[File:Rapale-Santa Maria Assumpta.jpg|thumb|left |parish church Santa Maria Assumpta]]

* Church ''Santa Maria Assumpta'', Pisan legacy
* Fontaine and laundry has Rapalinca
* [[Église Saint-Césaire de Rapale|Église Saint-Césaire]], classified as historical monument in 1840. It has the distinction of having been built in any [[Serpentine (mineral)|serpentine]], local green stone [[Digital (architecture)|paired]] carefully. It is considered the twin of [[#Murato The church of San Michele|The church of San Michele]] of [[Murato, Haute-Corse|Murato]]. Abandoned to 1920, the collapse of its roof has led some of the walls. Classified, it is being restored.
* Chapel San Martino (St. Martin) in the north of the village parish church ruins.
* Chapel Sant'Anton''''north of the chapel''''San Martino, also ruined.

== Holidays and leisure  ==
[[File:Panel Rapale Piève Sorio.jpg|thumb|right | Panneau du Sentier]] 
* Day 15 August, Assumption Day.
* Trail Rapale, Pieve - Soriu ''Between secular and sacred'', circular route through the main strengths (religious heritages and civilian). From this trail, other courses are offered to outstanding works, such as a bridge Genoese church or San Cesariu Nera Chiesa.

==See also==
*[[Communes of the Haute-Corse department]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Rapale}}
{{Haute-Corse communes}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Communes of Haute-Corse]]