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 about 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
My great-grandfather was born in Selvacava (and my great grandmother in Ausonia, across the valley). I first visited in 1989, when a first cousin of my maternal grandmother and his wife still lived there. Another branch of my family is still there, and I have visited several times over the ensuing decades. It is an incredibly beautiful setting, though the population has been declining steadily for decades. I’d love to connect with you!
My mother was Silvia Moschetta daughter of Luciano Moschetta and Antonia Marricco .. she had three brothers Alessandro.. Guiseppe and Salvatore.. one sister Angela married into the Garofalo family.. I was born in Selvacava too . Been in the USA since 1953… my fathers name was Nicola Marricco son of Luciano Marricco and Gaetana Piccolino…my husband used to Felice Piccolino son of Raffaele and Rosa Piccolino.. his fraternal grandparents were Maria Moschetta and Felice Piccolino… his maternal grandparents were Vincenzo Cupo and Bartolomeo Piccolino.. we still have family in Italy and correspond with them
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.