In the Middle Ages, Oletta was situated in the center of a pieve (administrative division) and thrived because of its proximity to exploited silver mines. Today’s parish church Sant’Andria was built in the same location as the former roman pievane (parish) church of which some elements of its original façade were conserved.

During modern times in the XVI ^th century, around 1520, the pieve of Oletta had about 1000       inhabitants. At that period, the areas inhabited were named Oletta, Romanacce, A Leccia, U Salicetu, U Cermolacce, Boccheciampe, U Muntaghjo, E Paganacce, U Monticellu, Olivacce, U Poghju, Costa, Gregogna, Casalicu, Brietta.                                                                                          .

Oletta played an important role in the Great Corsican Rebellion (1729 – 1769).

In the XVIII^th century during the period between 1729 and 1769 troops from several countries (Germany, Austria, England, Spain, Genoa, Sardinia) intervened in Corsica.  Oletta was the theatre of political and military events, and a great number of its inhabitants took an active part in the conflict opposing Corsicans and Genovese.  Very early, with those from several of the island’s municipalities they entered into an armed conflict against the occupying forces.

- 1731:  August 10 ^th, the head of the German troops, Wachtendonck, landed in Bastia, and with him,   Camille Doria, the new general commissioner. On August 4 ^th , Doria published  a doge edict and assemblies that granted a general pardon to Corsicans provided they go back to their homes, give their weapons back within 15 days and return the fort of Saint-Florent and the tower of Mortella   Excluded from the pardon: Andria Ceccaldi, Luigi Giafferi, Ghjanfrancescu Lusinchi, Carlu Francescu Alessandrini de Canari, PierSimone Ginestra (Sagon’s bishop’s chancellor from Oletta), Ghjuan Tumasgiu Giuliani de Muru and Simone Fabiani from Santa Reparata di Balagna; a bonus of 2000 silver ecus for the murder of one of them, or 2500 for his capture.

The following municipalities: Olmeta di Tuda and Oletta, Loretu and U Viscuvatu, Talasani, A Porta and Ficaghja, Carchetu and Pedicroce, Castinetu and Merusaglia, Nuceta, Ruspigliani and I Gatti di Vivariu, Bustanicu, Corsica and Calacuccia, Palasca and Spiluncatu, Muru, Santa Riparata di Balagna, Zicavu, Bastelica, Centuri and Mursiglia.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

- 1732:  April 15 ^th A Letter by a Corsican written to a national friend living on dry land, was attributed to the canon Ghjuliu Matteu Natali (a native of Oletta, later he was Bishop of Tivoli and Cardinal   Ferron’s auditor), printed and distributed on the Italian mainland, that which was intended to discredit the falsehoods published by the Genoese.

Wachtendonck and the remaining German troops leave Corsica at the beginning of June 1733.

- 1746:  September 7 ^th  The Genoese, defeated, opened their city to Austrian troops. The surrender had been signed the day before.  The Republic, taxed at 24 million pounds, was completely ruined.  The Austrians freed Antoine and Nicolo Rivarola, Dumenicu’s sons, natives of the village, who had been in Genoese prisons for more than one year.  Antone, a student in Sienna, had come to Oletta to find his brother. They were taken prisoner on a small Tuscan boat with an English patent that took them back to Livorno.                                                                                                                                       

- 1749:  May 6 ^th   In Oletta, the Marquis of Cursay, Colonel of the Tournaisis regiment, brought together the 15 Parliament members and one prosecutor per pieve (administrative district). He restated that Corsica must submit to the Republic and promised advantageous regulations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

- 1751:   August 1^st In Oletta, Chauvelin presided over an assembly of Parliament members and prosecutors from the pieves (administrative districts).  In his opening speech, he threatend to take away the French troops if the Corsicans refused the regulations they were drawing up in Genoa and that the king of France’s generosity was trying to make it favorable for Corsicans. The delegates signed an act of submission to the Republic, their sovereign, who was introduced to the commissioner Grimaldi, in Bastia, by four parliament members: the Parish priest of Olmetu,  Francescu Graziani of Cassanu, Ghjuvan Teseu di a Brocca and Orsu Santu Casale d’Olmeta.                                                                                                                     

- 1753:   February 16 ^th The itinerant commission was in Oletta. It ordered Ghjiseppu Mari Pietrasanta, Lieutenant of the Republic in Reglianu, to leave Capicorsu.  Pietrasanta left for Bastia.                                                                                                                                                     

- 1755:   November 5 ^th   G.G. Grimaldi, who had just taken over the command of Saint-Florent, banned the inhabitants of the Nebbiu from accessing the city as well as all business between the capital and province.

- November 8 ^th Having remarked the half-heartedness of Nebbiu’s population to fight against the Genoese, the Corsican government ordered these people to be mobilized and armed and summoned them for the following day in Murato’s convent. The people of Oletta, Poghju and Barbaghju are not included in this order because they courageously stand firm against Grimaldi’s troops harassment.         

 -During the night of December 23^rd Grimaldi set Oletta‘s mills on fire. The patriots arrived too late to stop the fire but killed several soldiers, namely Captain Baccicalupo, Grimaldi’s right-hand man.

-1768:  September 14 ^th: The French people, who had conquered all of the Nebbiu, had firmly settled in Santu Niculaiu.  At 5:00 in the morning, 4000 Corsicans attacked the Camp. The battle continued until 3:00 in the afternoon.  During this time the Nationals took possession of Murato and threatened to cut off the French troops behind the lines. At 10 in the evening, Grandmaison, who had lost many soldiers and several officers, moved camp and went to Oletta, leaving behind part of his troops and the mobile hospital.                                                                      

-September 17^th:  Grandmaison carried out a victorious sortie against the Corsicans who were harassing his headquarters in Oletta.  On November 9 ^th the French troops had finished installing their winter quarters; they occupied Capicorsu, Bastia and Biguglia, Saint-Florent and Oletta, and communicated between each other through a chain of redoubts. The advanced Corsican posts were in Borgu, Lucciana, Muratu, Rapale, Vallecale and Olmeta.

-1769:  February 13 ^th :  Father Francescu Antone Saliceti, called Peverino, his parents and friends left Oletta occupied by Mr. d’Arcambal’s soldiers. They had promised Paoli to make it easier to attack the village from the inside but the General had just changed objectives. Their project was quickly discovered and arrests were made.

-On March 5^th Marbeuf assigned Mr. de Pujol to investigate the trial of the inhabitants of Oletta arrested for treason. On April 22^nd a Royal Order appointing Chardon to investigate and judge the trial of “conspiracy” of Oletta. On May 1^st both armies are face to face.  De Vaux had installed most of his troops, that is 20 battalions plus the cavalry in the plains of Oletta; 90 ‘volunteers’ brought by the Knight of Viomesnil were placed in front; on the left, Marbeuf with 3000 men and the cavalry from the Legion Soubise arrived in Bevincu; on the right 2000 men under the command of Mr. d’Arcambal occupied the region between Oletta and San Fiurenzu. On his side, Paoli had established his headquarters in Muratu and had his militia occupy the high regions of Tenda that controlled the valleys of Alisu and Ostriconi.

In 1755, the council of Casabianca entrusted Pascal Paoli with the rank of general.  On May 15 ^th  1768,   Genoa sold all its rights on Corsica to France. Two French battalions landed in Saint-Florent and four in Bastia with the aim to establish a liaison between these two cities and initiate the island’s conquest. The French people now occupied Oletta.  On January 2^nd 1769, Pascal Paoli suddenly appeared between Oletta and Saint Antoine and attacked the Marquis d’Arcambal’s tower.  Later, he planned on tightening the French people in Saint-Florent and Bastia, but a deserter informed the enemy and the liaison between Bastia and Saint-Florent was reestablished by the French people and the Golu.

French Oletta

1768 – After the Genoese transferred Corsica, the island was under French administration. The pieve (administrative division) of Oletta took the name of the pieve (administrative division) of Tuda.

1789 – Corsica became part of the French Kingdom.

1790 – With the French Revolution the department of Corsica was created, then in 1793 that of the Golo (currently Upper Corsica) and of Liamone (Southern Corsica)

1793 – The municipality was called Oletta. The pieve of Tuda became the administrative district of Tuda.

1801 – The municipality kept the name Oletta. The administrative district of Tuda remained the administrative district of Tuda.

1828 – The administrative district of Tuda took the name of administrative district of Oletta.

Contemporary period

1954 – The municipality of Oletta counted 1018 inhabitants. It was the county seat of the administrative district of Oletta composed of the municipalities of Oletta, Olmeta-di-Tuda, Poggio-d’Oletta and Vallecalle. 

1973 - The former administrative districts of Oletta and Saint-Florent merged to create a new administrative district of Conca-d’Oro.  Oletta became the county seat.