Serravezza
The
Seravezza territory in the Versilia, extends for 39,37 square kilometres
at the foot of a spur of the coastal slopes of the Alpi Apuane. The centre
is situated at the influx of the Serra and Vezza which form the River Versilia.
Seravezza called Sala Vetitia in a document of the X
century, Sala Vecchia in the Lucca Annals of Tolomeo and Seravetitia in
certain papers of 1368 and 1375, was originally the dominion the Lords
of Corvaia and Vallecchia, by an investiture of Emperor Federico II. Destroyed
in 1269 by the Lucca militia, it was joined, with its territory, to the
Vicariate of Pietrasanta. Later devastated by the unruly Fiorentine solders
captained by Rinaldo degli Albizzi and Astorre Gianni (1429), from 1430
Seravezza was governed by Genova, to whom Lucca had pledged the fortresses
of Pietrasanta and Motrone with all their districts. It came under the
power of Firenze in 1484 and then in 1496 Piero dei Medici consigned it
with Pietransta to Carlo VIII, in 1498 the town was sold to Lucca, who
retained it until 1513 when a ruling of Leone X assigned Seravezza to
the Mediceo State. During the Nazi occupation, the population of the municipality
suffered atrocious reprisals by several divisions of the SS who had established
their general quarters in the Villa Henraux obligatory path for those
going up or down the high Versilia. From there in fact the Germans proceeded
in the systematic destruction of the districts of Ripa, Corvaia the neighbourhoods
of Fucina and Monte Altissimo in Seravezza, capturing and torturing numerous
civilians, then barbarously killing them. The town is the birth place
of the writer Enrico Pea (1881-1958).
Places to visit:
Palazzo Mediceo, constructed in 1555 by Bartolomeo Annammati, desired
by Cosimo I as summer residence. Today it is the museum.
SS. Annunziata, church erected in 1400 but remodelled after the second
world war. Under the portico of the façade is a precious basso
relievo of a Madonna col Bambino.
Stazzema:
 It’s
the smallest principal town in Versilia. It is also the one located at
the highest altitude (443 meters above the sea), on top of mount Matanna.
The town’s territory is delimited by the Apuan Alps on the North-East,
Camaiore and Pietrasanta on the South-West, and Seravezza on the West.
It’s 12km from Seravezza, to which it is connected by regular bus
lines. A network of tracks starts from the town, which allow to reach
all the locations and the summits of the Apuane which surround it. The
town itself is quite off centred from its territory, so much that its
legal location is in the hamlet of Ponte Stazzemese.
It is inhabited by around 600 people; the economy of the town is limited
to some commercial and tourist activities as well as some craftsman shops.
The origin and meaning of its name, which first appears in documents from
the end of the IX and X centuries, isn’t certain. The Town of Stazzema
is divided into 18 hamlets, each one with its story and traditions. The
hamlets are Stazzema, Cardoso, Levigliani, Arni, Terrinca, Pontestazzemese,
Farnocchia, Sant'Anna, Pomezzana, Retignano, Pruno, Volegno, Ruosina,
Palagnana, Mulina, Gallena, La Culla and Campagrina.
 Cardoso
– 265m high
It is located at about 3Km from Pontestazzemese. One gets there following
backward the course of the river. The town was born in 1407 from the union
of 3 villages: Cardoso, Malinventre and Farneta. The extraction and the
working of a stone known since the X century and called Cardoso Stone
takes on a great importance in today’s local economy. It is used
to make doorframe, doorway, steps, etc.
The town church, built in the first half of the XVII Century in honour
of Santa Maria Assunta, is located in front of the beautiful 1745 bell
tower. Leaving town, where one can enjoy an enviable cool during summer,
it is possible to follow tracks of various levels of difficulty that allow
to get to Colle Mezzana, Palagnana, il Monte Forato, below which are located
various locations as well as the church of San Leonardo, of Roman foundation.
Levigliani - Valle di Cansoli - 650m
The numerous Etruscan archaeological pieces as well as the recently discovered
necropolis of the liguri apuani are witnesses of its ancient origins.
Previously united to the adjacent hamlet of Terrinca, it became autonomous
in the first decade of the 1500. It is of a considerable tourist importance.
In fact, on top of being a place of summer villégiature of reference
to the tourists staying on the Versilian coast, it also is a starting
point to reach the Mosceta Valley (Valle di Mosceta), Mount Corchia (Monte
Corchia), famous for its Antro and Mount Pania (Monte Pania).
Pontestazzemese - 160m
It is located at the point of confluence of the Canale delle Mulina and
the Canale Versilia. In the background, you can see the characteristic
Monte Forato, and on its left, la Pania della Croce. In the locality of
Fornetto, there is a stone which testifies of the presence of Giosuè
Carducci in this village during the period of his youth. Going beyond
the river, following a steep dirt road, one reaches the summit of a hill
where a Monument has been built and dedicated to all the Alpine Soldiers
(Alpini) fallen in war. During summer, the fresh climate turns the village
into an oasis where tourists gladly come to. Instead, in the winter time,
the village has a rather cold and humid temperature, given that it is
located in a valley and along a river.
Farnocchia - 650m
Located in the middle of vast valleys of chestnut woods, tourists and
vacationers appreciate it for its fresh and clean air. It also allows
to watch and admire amazing sceneries and the most beautiful mounts of
the Apuane: Matanna, Procinto, Forato, Pania Secca, Pania della Croce,
Corchia, located to the North and East, while South, through a short walk,
Monte Gabberi can be reached. From Monte Gabberi, it is possible to watch
the coast that stretches between the gulf of La Spezia and Livorno and
nice weather permitting, also the isle of Gorgona.
At Farnocchia, there is a church dedicated to S. Michele Arcangelo, which
original structure dates back to before 1000. Inside this church, you
will find a pretty baptismal fountain, a monumental organ, the Altar of
the Rosary, with its amazing tiles in bas-relief representing the 15 points
of the Rosary, The Last Supper and much else still.
During summer, several events, gastronomical and other, are organised.
Sant'Anna - 660m
It is a small village located in a natural depression, dominated by Monte
Lieto and Monte Gabberi; It became sadly known for the massacre of 560
people committed by the Nazi troops on August 12th 1944. The Canale dei
Mulini starts from the village and stretches till Valdicastello, birth
town of Giosuè Carducci. Around the village of Sant'Anna, you can
find many hamlets and scattered houses which take the following names:
Monte Ornato, l'Argentiera, Vallecava, Vaccareccia, i Bambini, il Moco,
il Colle, Fabbiani, Sennari, le Case di Berna, Vinci, Franchi, le Case,
il Pero, i Merli, i Coletti and further down, towards Valdicastello, i
Mulini. Previously being part of the small town of Farnocchia, forming
its mountain pasture, it then became a place where to live. The Charnel
House Monument (Monumento Ossario) which gathers the remains of 560 Martyrs
raises itself on top of the Pass di Cava (Colle di Cava).
The piece of local stone work was built in 1948, a project of the Architect
Tito Salvatori, and accommodates, above the common grave, a sculpture
by Vincenzo Gasperetti which represents a young mother who is tenderly
hugging to her chest, in a death embrace, her little girl that was killed.
A Historical Museum has been built at Sant'Anna, town recognised as Regional
Centre of the Resistance. The village and its surroundings are located
in the “Park of Peace” (Parco della Pace). |