Casanova: Church, History and Routes

Casanova brings together artistic connections, a turbulent castle history and several routes described in different ways. If you are looking for a hotel in Casanova, it helps to first decide what interests you most: are you particularly interested in the Church of San Bartolomeo and its history, or would you like to compare the route information? When planning, it is worth avoiding treating the routes as a single, uniform profile. The Morrona–Casanova loop specifies its length, difficulty and possible ways of getting around; for Sentieri No. 453 and No. 454, the focus is on the route between places and a stretch before the Borgo, respectively.

The Church of San Bartolomeo and Casanova’s History

The Church of San Bartolomeo was built in Casanova on the site of the old, demolished fortress. Inside the church are three painted terracotta statues depicting the Madonna and Child between John and Bartholomew. The figures are attributed to Giovanni Gonnelli, also known as the Blind Man of Gambassi; they date from the mid-17th century. The subject, material, attribution and dating provide different clues for interpreting these works of art: the subject identifies the figures depicted, the attribution names the artist, and the dating places the statues in time.

Casanova was once a feudal castle. In 1164, it rose up against Pisa along with other castles in the Valdera area; the Pisans razed it. The involvement of other castles places the revolt in its regional context. The reference to Pisa identifies the opponent and also makes clear how the conflict ended for Casanova. Thus, the castle’s history is one of the area’s historical connections, while the statues represent a distinct artistic connection from the mid-17th century.

Routes and Different Route Details

The Morrona–Casanova loop is an easy, 2 km route. It can be travelled by mountain bike, on foot or on horseback. The loop’s length, difficulty and three ways of travelling it are therefore specified. Sentiero No. 453 runs from Stibbiolo via Lago di Cuccheri to Casanova. Its route can be followed through the places named: the starting point, intermediate stop and destination are all part of the route description.

Sentiero No. 454 reaches the Borgo di Casanova after a stretch of about 200 m along the provincial road. The available directions therefore differ from those for the loop and Sentiero No. 453: the Morrona–Casanova route specifies its length and difficulty, No. 453 gives the sequence of places, and No. 454 describes the stretch of road before the Borgo. To compare the routes, you can first consider which detail matters for your plans: a short distance with specified ways of travelling, or a route through named places or leading to the Borgo.

Another Connection to the Landscape

The Podere La Chiesa winery overlooks the Casanova valley. This landscape connection complements the themes of art and history with a different perspective; it sits alongside the route descriptions, which give specific routes and distances. This allows you to distinguish between different aspects when planning your trip: the church and its works of art, the former castle and its history, the details of the different routes, and the winery’s connection to the valley.

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