Selvatelle
Welcome to Selvatelle: Let's Discover Together This Tuscan Hamlet
Selvatelle is a small hamlet located in the municipality of Terricciola, in the province of Pisa, in Tuscany. Known for its panoramic position, Selvatelle is nestled in Valdera along the course of the Era river, which borders the town to the east, while the Rosciano stream runs to the west.
In this article, we'll discover together the history of Selvatelle, its monuments and points of interest, and some of its most important cultural and traditional events.
Physical Geography
Selvatelle is the northernmost hamlet of the municipality of Terricciola and borders on the north with Capannoli and Santo Pietro Belvedere, on the west with Soiana and Morrona, on the east with Peccioli beyond the Era river, and on the south with Terricciola itself and the hamlet of La Rosa. Selvatelle is about 5 km from Terricciola and about 40 km from Pisa.
History
The territory of the hamlet of Selvatelle roughly coincides with the ancient medieval municipality of Casanova, or Casa Nuova, mentioned in 780 and over which the Upezzinghi nobles of Pisa held sovereignty. There was an important castle here, which was dismantled by the Pisani in 1164. In 1238, the municipality of Casanova was among those participating in the treaty of the league signed at Santa Maria a Monte, while in 1289, a battle was fought here between the Ghibellines of Valdera and the Guelfs of Peccioli.
The modern town of Selvatelle developed downstream of the village, in a rural area known in ancient times as Monsolazzo or Monteculaccio, which was a fiefdom of the bishops of Lucca, as recorded in documents from the early Middle Ages of 721, 1075, 1119, and 1175. Here was situated a historic parish church dedicated to San Martino, a place of worship for the farmers who worked in the surrounding fields.
The town has undergone significant expansion since the 19th century, growing along the SS 439 Sarzanese Valdera road after the gradual depopulation of the village of Casanova, now a locality with few inhabitants dependent on Selvatelle, the hamlet with its 1300 inhabitants being the most populous center in the municipality.
Monuments and Points of Interest
Among the monuments and points of interest in Selvatelle, we find the Church of San Martino, the parish church of the hamlet, dating back to 1965 and replacing the ancient early medieval church of Monteculaccio, now deconsecrated and used as a warehouse, although unrecognizable after numerous modifications in modern times.
The Church of San Bartolomeo in Casanova, the ancient parish church of the former municipality of Casanova, is located in the center of the small village on a hill not far from the center of Selvatelle. It preserves inside three painted terracotta statues from the 17th century, depicting the Madonna with Child between Saints John and Bartholomew, attributed to the Blind of Gambassi.
Cultural Events and Traditional Festivals
Selvatelle promotes numerous cultural initiatives throughout the year, such as the festival of San Martino, held every year on the second weekend of November and including a market of local products, wine tastings, and stands with local crafts.
The hamlet is also famous for the strawberry festival, which is held every year in June. Strawberries are one of Selvatelle's most typical products, thanks to the presence of numerous cultivated fields around the village, and during the festival, you can taste numerous dishes based on strawberries, such as strawberry cake, strawberry fruit salad, and much more.
Conclusion
In summary, Selvatelle is a welcoming and characteristic hamlet, where among its historic monuments, natural beauty, and culinary traditions, the desire to celebrate an active and rooted community is never lacking. A stop that deserves to be discovered during a visit to Tuscany.
