Castell'anselmo Li: Village History and the Cammino

Castell'Anselmo combines a rural setting with traces of Roman and village history. A stage of the Cammino di Santa Giulia passes through the village; the Roman mansio of Torretta Vecchia lies between Castell'Anselmo and the hamlet of Torretta Vecchia. If you are looking for a hotel in Castell'anselmo Li, you can plan your trip around these different themes: the route and landscape, or archaeology and local history.

The Cammino di Santa Giulia and the landscape

Stage CSG-T002-V26 of the Cammino di Santa Giulia passes through Castell'Anselmo, between Parrana San Martino and Località Le Badie. Olive groves, vineyards and woods shape the landscape around the village. The section of the Cammino near Castell'Anselmo offers panoramic views towards the plain. The route, vegetation and views give different impressions of the area's rural character: the path connects named places, while the view opens out over the landscape towards the plain.

Castell'Anselmo is considered a small village of medieval origin. Its name also recalls an old castle that controlled the routes connecting the coast with the Tuscan hinterland. This history behind the name adds a historical context to the route: the paths through the area are not only of interest to travellers on the Cammino, but are also part of local history.

The Roman mansio and its baths

The mansio at Torretta Vecchia was a Roman way station on the ancient Via Aemilia Scauri. It lay between the hamlet of Torretta Vecchia and Castell'Anselmo, on the Via Emilia. The historic complex included inns, stables, accommodation, warehouses and baths. The site therefore served a range of purposes associated with travellers and the operation of a station on an ancient road.

The bath complex had a frigidarium for cold baths, a heated caldarium and a tepidarium. These terms illustrate the layout of the Roman baths: the frigidarium was for cold baths, while the caldarium and tepidarium were other named parts of the complex. The mansio was identified as Mansio Turrita on the Tabula Peutingeriana. Taken together, the way station, accommodation and baths show different aspects of the historic complex, without conflating the baths with the village's later history.

Tours of the mansio are offered and run by the Associazione Culturale Gaia APS. If you plan to include a tour in your visit, check the date in advance.

Church, chapel and village life

Santa Maria Assunta e San Lorenzo is located at Via Pontesantoro 8 in Castell'Anselmo. An old chapel also stands on Via Pontesantoro, dating back approximately to the 18th century. It contains a wooden cross with carvings depicting Christian scenes and symbols, especially motifs from the Passion. The church and chapel thus offer points of interest distinct from the Roman site; the chapel is notable for its religious imagery and approximate historical dating.

A small building along the route through Castell'Anselmo once served as a communal oven for the whole village. Its former use speaks to everyday community life and adds another perspective on village life alongside the religious and archaeological themes. Together, the mansio, chapel and oven offer different historical points of interest, while the Cammino provides a view of the village through its landscape.

Plan your trip around your interests

For your planning, you can distinguish between two specific interests: the Cammino passes through Castell'Anselmo and offers views towards the plain along the village section; the mansio represents the Roman way station and its bath complex. The chapel and former communal oven add religious themes and community life in the village to this history.

Discover more destinations: Guasticce, Parrana San Giusto, Colognole

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