For a while, a certain calm reigned in the valley: from 1100 until 1625, the valley belonged to feudal lords. The Avogari di Gentile family were the first rulers, and they governed for the better part of two centuries. They were replaced by the Lords of Pisa, followed by the Lords of Brando, Nonza and Canari. In 1625, Pietracorbara was ruled directly by the Republic of Genoa. In 1757, Pascal Paoli - Corsica's first independence fighter - took control. One decade later, Corsica itself became the possession of Louis XV, King of France.

Seventeen centuries of diverse rule and ownership gave rise to three main sites which determined the layout of the village. The first was Ampuglia, a protected port wrapped around itself and which disappeared during a tidal wave. Next, the Castellare castle, a veritable eagle's nest which sadly now lies in ruins. Finally, a salt mine was built in 1714 behind the beach. Tragedy of tragedies: the sea submerged the "white gold" fields of long ago.