Selvena: Cinnabar Mining, Rocca Silvana and Church History

Selvena combines cinnabar mining, medieval heritage and ecclesiastical architecture. The Miniera del Morone lies just outside Selvena. The Chiesa di San Nicola da Tolentino is connected with the history of the older Pieve di San Nicola. This combination will appeal to you if, when travelling in Italy, you want not only to visit historical sites individually but also to understand their different functions.

The Miniera del Morone and the Cinnabar Processing Route

At the Miniera del Morone, the entire cinnabar processing cycle can be traced: from its emergence from the tunnel through transport in carts pulled by a locomotive, the crusher and the dryer, to the conveyor belt and the furnaces. The stations make the handling of the ore understandable as a sequence of work steps and give the history of mining a technical, tangible dimension.

The Cermak-Spirek furnaces are still fully preserved on the grounds of the Miniera del Morone. They therefore represent the final stage of the processing cycle and, at the same time, a preserved testament to Selvena's industrial past. Anyone interested in the history of technology will find a direct way here to understand the work processes surrounding cinnabar.

Church, Inscription and Medieval Traces

The Chiesa di San Nicola da Tolentino replaced an older Pieve di San Nicola, which Countess Tomasia had built in 1238. The façade bears a medieval inscription from Rocca Silvana commemorating this construction. The church thus brings together the present structure and a specific reference to the site's earlier history.

The interior has a Latin cross floor plan, is covered by vaults and encompasses approximately 140 square metres. Two chapels are dedicated to San Nicola and the Addolorata, respectively. The church is therefore particularly suited to quiet contemplation of its spatial form, vaulting and religious details.

Rocca Silvana and Mining History

Rocca Silvana served as a military outpost to protect the nearby cinnabar mines. It stands on a rocky spur south of Selvena and can be reached via a turn-off from the provincial road to Sovana. This makes it possible to consider mining not only through the processing carried out in the mine, but also through its former protection.

Historical Connection and Local Cuisine

Historically, the Sentiero del Cinabro in Selvena connected Rocca Silvana with the site of the former Miniera del Morone. The path is therefore part of the historical connection between the military outpost and the former mining site, without this implying anything about its current usability.

Tortelli con patate is considered a dish of Selvena's mining tradition. These filled pasta parcels complement the visit with a culinary connection to the local history of mining.

The Landscape Around Selvena

The first documented settlement in Selvena dates back to 1081. Chestnut trees of exceptional size grow in the immediate surroundings of Selvena. Thus, alongside the traces of the mine, fortress and church, a striking landscape also forms part of Selvena's historical and local character.

For the broader travel overview: Castell'azzara.