Selvacava is a small village in central Italy, in the municipality of Ausonia, which is in the province of Frosinone, in the Lazio region. It lies about halfway between Rome and Naples, and is where my father was born. It has a population of 335.
Selvacava, with Monte Fammera in the background
I love this charming village. It is the type of place where you can go to find tranquility and get lost in your thoughts.
One of the many alleyways in Selvacava
Not much has changed since the first time I went there when I was a child. There have been a few houses constructed, and there are now actually street lights and the streets are no longer dirt roads, but it still has that rustic charm with its fruit orchards, vineyards, and olive groves. Wine, cheese, and olive oil are still made by its residents. There is only one small grocery store within the village where you can get the bare necessities such as milk and bread, but there are larger stores in the surrounding towns and villages where you can get more.
Ancient fountain in Selvacava
Selvacava is surrounded by marble quarries which not only drive the economy of the surrounding areas but also make up somewhat of an open air museum where one can find many fossils of ancient sea creatures embedded in the stone from when this area was under water.
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This is the type of place where you need to have a car because even though there is bus service, it does not run frequently, and the nearest train station is in Formia.
The ever watchful Monte Fammera, where local residents hid during WWII
I am planning to visit Selvacava next year. I believe my family is from there, as it is written on the back of an old family photo. The name is Paliotta, if that rings a bell for anyone? They also settled in the Bronx.