Salviano

The Salviano coloursThe district of Salviano dates from the time of the Roman colonisation of the Pisan territory in the second century BC. Its church, dedicated to San Martino, was built in 1078 on the road that joined Porto Pisano to the Via Emilia Scauri. It still preserves the original apse.

The area shows characteristics typical of zones dedicated to agriculture, which flourished during the Roman period and later in the Middle Ages. Nowadays, many small industries have grown up, as well as warehouses and storerooms, and the area has seen marked development with the construction of the Leccia housing estate, named after the farm which used to occupy this area. More recent growth has resulted in the district of La Scopaia, and another development, known as Salviano II, is currently underway (2008).

The neighbouring district of Collinaia comprises the park known as the Villa Corridi, once owned by the Corridi family who transformed the area of forest into agricultural land. They also founded the distillery known as the Stillo, where there is now a housing development.

On the nearby hillside, 12 kilometres from the centre of Livorno, is the area known as Valle Benedetta from where one of the best views over the city can be admired. At the beginning of the 17th century this was a wild place inhabited by wolves and brigands. However, a local man called Colombino Bassi, of the Vallumbrosan Order, and friend of Cosimo III, took a liking to the area obtained permission from the Pope and the Grand Duchy to found a church and monastery here. The church was completed in 1697 and dedicated to San Giovanni Gualberto.
The very first inhabitants came to the area in the mid 1800s when the cultivation of Kermes insect began for the red dye that could be obtained from them.
Of these three historical districts, only Salviano has ever competed in Livorno’s rowing races. The team first competed in 1954.
Salviano has obtained the following victories in the ten-man boat: Palio Marinaro, four times in 1990, 1998, 1999 and 2001, the Coppa Risiatori five times in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2003, and the Coppa Barontini in 2000.