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Serravalle is a castle between Pescia and Pistoia, situated on a

hill which blocks the Val di Nievole, not in the exact pass, but

about a bowshot beyond; the pass itself is in places narrow and

steep, whilst in general it ascends gently, but is still narrow,

especially at the summit where the waters divide, so that twenty

men side by side could hold it. The lord of Serravalle was

Manfred, a German, who, before Castruccio became lord of Pistoia,

had been allowed to remain in possession of the castle, it being

common to the Lucchese and the Pistoians, and unclaimed by

either-neither of them wishing to displace Manfred as long as he

kept his promise of neutrality, and came under obligations to no

one. For these reasons, and also because the castle was well

fortified, he had always been able to maintain his position.