Discover Casanova: Church, History and Trails

Casanova combines local history, trails through the surrounding area and broader excursion destinations. Those planning culture and outdoor activities side by side for a trip to Italy will find sacred art, routes for walking, mountain biking or horseback riding, as well as museums, gardens and beaches in the surrounding area.

San Bartolomeo and the History of Casanova

In Casanova, San Bartolomeo Church stands on the site of the old, demolished fortress. The church contains three painted terracotta statues depicting the Madonna and Child between John and Bartholomew. The statues date from the mid-17th century and are attributed to Giovanni Gonnelli, nicknamed “the Blind Man of Gambassi.” The religious depiction can therefore be seen at a historic building site in Casanova.

The Circular Route and the Sentieri

The Morrona–Casanova circular route is an easy 2 km trail. It can be used by mountain bike, on foot or on horseback. The specific length makes the short route easy to assess when planning the day, without limiting its use to a single mode of transport. As an independent trail section, the loop remains manageable. Sentiero No. 453 leads from Stibbiolo via Lago di Cuccheri to Casanova. Sentiero No. 454 reaches the Borgo di Casanova after a section of about 200 m along the provincial road. The approximately 200 metres along the provincial road should therefore be treated as a separate section when planning the route for the day.

1164, Valdera and the Valley

Casanova’s past reaches back to the year 1164. At that time, the former feudal castle rose up against Pisa together with other castles in the Valdera area and was consequently razed by the Pisans. The historical date therefore reaches further back than the date of the terracotta statues. The Podere La Chiesa winery provides a landscape connection, overlooking the Casanova Valley.

Destinations in the Nearby Area

The Parco Preistorico Peccioli archaeological site is located in the vicinity of Casanova. The Castello dei Vicari castle, the Museo Piaggio museum and the Giardino dei Pini garden are also located around Casanova. Those wishing to include further cultural destinations alongside the local history will find an archaeological site, a castle and a museum here; the garden is a separate landscape destination.

Museum and Beaches in the Wider Regional Area

The wider regional area around Casanova includes the Ecomuseo dell'Alabastro museum and the beaches Bagno Aurora, Bagno Ausonia and Spiagge bianche. The museum and beaches are independent destinations in this wider regional area.

More Ideas for Places to Visit

Alongside Casanova, Soiana is also one of the places to visit on this trip to Italy.

For the main travel overview: Terricciola.