Its origins date back to the Middle Ages, when it was a castle disputed between Lucca, Pisa and Florence. The village is now uninhabited<\/strong> and has been listed in the FAI, census of Italian places to be saved.<\/p>\n There is a deconsecrated 11th-century church dedicated to St. John the Baptist. It is located in an area of considerable landscape interest<\/strong>, between Palaia and Volterra, between the gentle green hills and the rugged sandy gullies<\/strong> that end with the Balze around Volterra. Toiano offers the opportunity of a beautiful historical-naturalistic route, in an unknown area of Tuscany, in a rural context rich in history and also in mystery.<\/p>\n In fact, the village is sadly remembered for the murder in 1947 of Elvira Orlandini, known as “the bella Elvira”<\/strong>, a young 20-year-old girl who was barbarously killed in the woods and whose killing triggered a media case in post-war Italy. The village was also talked about years ago thanks to the photographer Oliviero Toscani, who dedicated a photographic competition to it.<\/p>\n Of ancient origins, it derives its name from the Lombard “Sala” (country villa).\u00a0The Florentine Ricciardi family owned the estate in the 16th-17th centuries. It is an example of a completely self-sufficient villa farm<\/strong>. The main square is overlooked by the 17th-century manor house and the tower with the clock, with a painting of the Ricciardi coat of arms (shield with key) next to it.<\/p>\n Today Villa Saletta is completely uninhabited<\/strong>, but it comes alive in summer with the popular theatre festival<\/strong> that stages shows with Tuscan artists. It has been chosen as a location for films<\/strong> such as Io e Napoleone by Virz\u00ec and La notte di San Lorenzo by the Taviani brothers.<\/p>\nVilla Saletta<\/h2>\n
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