Located on a sunny hill along the Brattello road, not far from the town of Pontremoli, Traverde is a charming village that was once very populated, as evidenced by the censuses of the 19th and 20th centuries.

In this area, for those who know it well, there are hidden gems of art and history, such as the ancient church known as the “old church,” along with the adjoining oratory, which in the 17th century was referred to as White St. Mary (Santa Maria Bianca). The perimeter of the old church is still clearly visible, as it delineates the current cemetery, although the recent construction of a high wall has enclosed it, altering its relationship with the surrounding environment.

The mediaeval masonry, made of large squared sandstone blocks expertly fitted together, reveals the shapes of the ancient single nave with an apse. Attached to the left side is the 15th-century oratory, with simple and almost humble construction; opening the door to this tiny building reveals one of the hidden masterpieces of Lunigiana. Inside the oratory, there is a cycle of 15th-century frescoes that, despite having suffered severe mutilations, represents one of the most significant pictorial works of the period in the entire Magra valley. In addition to the central scene featuring the Virgin Mary on the throne with the Child, numerous representations of Saints are clearly visible, including well-recognizable figures of St. Roch, St. Sebastian, St. Peter, and St. Paul.

The old church of Traverde is listed in the tithes records at the end of the 13th century as dependent on the parish church of Urceola-Saliceto, while the new church is located right in the centre of the village. With the term “dependent” we intend to mean that it was under the authority of the parish church of Urceola-Saliceto, this is because in mediaeval times, every small church was under the authority of one main church for each valley. Dedicated to Saints Filippo and Giacomo, it was built in the 17th century, when the previous church was abandoned, demolished, and transformed into a cemetery area.