Santa Caterina
Santa Caterina, a hidden gem in Tuscany
Welcome to Santa Caterina, a hamlet in the commune of Roccalbegna, located in the beautiful region of Tuscany, in the province of Grosseto. This beautiful village is situated at the foot of the hills that divide the Albegna valley from the Ombrone valley and is located in the hilly hinterland of the Grossetan Maremma.
Discover the history of Santa Caterina
Santa Caterina was first mentioned in 1594, but its history dates back much earlier. This hamlet was born as an agglomeration with an agricultural character, formed by scattered houses and farms that over time ended up merging into a single village. Santa Caterina began its expansion in the 17th century, but had greater success and vitality towards the end of the 19th century, when new groups of houses were added to the oldest hamlets thanks to the immigration of shepherds, loggers, and charcoalmakers from Casentino.
Visiting Santa Caterina: what to see
If you're interested in a day trip, be sure to visit Santa Caterina. This hamlet has several attractions to offer tourists:
Church of Santa Caterina, virgin and martyr: this is the modern parish church of Santa Caterina, located in the district of Posta. The church replaced the old chapel in hosting religious functions a few decades ago. The parish covers a territory of 340 inhabitants.
Chapel of Santa Caterina delle Ruote: this ancient church dates back to the 16th century and was built in gratitude to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, to commemorate a historic event that took place on November 25, 1555, when the men of Roccalbegna managed to resist and drive out the French army, allied with the Sienese. The chapel constitutes the original nucleus of the village of Santa Caterina and was renovated and enlarged in 1960.
Birthplace of Morbello Vergari: located in the district of Campane, this house is the place where the peasant poet Morbello Vergari was born on December 28, 1920. A plaque commemorating the event is placed on the house.
Santa Caterina over time: demographic evolution
Like many other cities and hamlets in Italy, Santa Caterina has seen the evolution of its population. When talking about the population of Santa Caterina, reference is made to the entire hamlet. According to Istat data, since 1991 only the inhabitants of the urban centre have been counted, not those of the hamlet.
- 1921: 399 inhabitants
- 1931: 389 inhabitants
- 1961: 493 inhabitants (201 in the urban centre only)
- 1981: 350 inhabitants (176 in the urban centre only)
- 1991: not available (152 in the urban centre only)
- 2001: not available (110 in the urban centre only)
- 2011: not available (272 in the urban centre only)
Santa Caterina: traditions and folklore
Like many cities and towns in Italy, Santa Caterina has its own traditions and folklore. The ancient rite of fire, known as Focarazza, is held in Santa Caterina on the evening of November 24, the eve of the "birthday" of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The parish priest of the village climbs in procession up the hill overlooking it and blesses a normal pile of faggots and wood in the middle of which is inserted an oak pole, the so-called "stollo".
Visit Santa Caterina to discover all that this beautiful Tuscan hamlet has to offer. Don't miss the main attractions such as the Church of Santa Caterina, virgin and martyr, the Chapel of Santa Caterina delle Ruote, and the birthplace of Morbello Vergari. Immerse yourself in the history and traditions of the hamlet and discover why this place is worth a visit!
