Referred to as "American palaces" (palazzi), at first glance these buildings appear to be neither palace nor American. It is easy to identify palazzi - large rectangular buildings with "four slope" slate tile roofs (generally local roofs have only two slopes). Built at the end of the 19th century and in the early 20th century by expatriate residents of Pietracorbara - those who had made their fortunes in South America (mainly in Porto Rico and Venezuela), these grand two and three story houses with their large windows and even larger gardens, were visible marks of success for their owners.

A well-known island lawyer once remarked that "a Corsican never leaves, he only travels", and the americani or Pietracorbara expatriates who returned in triumph to their natal village to build their dream palaces lend truth to the saying.