Holiday apartment in Pavia – Nature, Trails and Culture

Pavia can be discovered through trails, landscapes, nature and culture. Between rice fields and canals, river floodplains and Apennine slopes, there are routes for walks, bike rides and excursions, as well as palaces, museums, gardens and historic sites.

Nature

The Parco naturale lombardo della Valle del Ticino has more than 750 km of cycling and walking paths. These include more than 100 km along canal towpaths. Parco del Ticino can be explored on foot, by bicycle, canoe or on horseback. In the Province of Pavia, Pavia, Vigevano, Garlasco and Zerbolò are among the places belonging to this natural area.

The Anello delle Streghe follows the embankment of the Ticino to the slow-flowing Ramo delle Streghe. Typical aquatic plants such as water lilies, water crowfoot and yellow irises, as well as amphibians and reptiles, can be found there. Further south, the Riserva Naturale Monte Alpe extends along the Apennine slope between the upper Val Staffora in the Province of Pavia and the basin of the Tidone stream. Its highest point is the 1,254-metre-high summit of Monte Alpe. The reserve is criss-crossed by hiking trails through forests and meadows and to viewpoints, suitable for different fitness levels.

Trails

The Lombard section of the Via Francigena can be travelled on foot, by bicycle or by train. It passes through Palestro, Robbio, Nicorvo and Mortara and runs alongside watercourses, rivers, canals, fields and rice fields, as well as habitats for wild animals and birds.

Another notable connection is the Greenway Voghera–Varzi. It begins at the station of Voghera and ends in Varzi. The route comprises a 14 km-long flat section from Voghera to Salice Terme and a 19 km-long hilly section from Salice Terme to Varzi. Overall, the Greenway is more than 33 km long, paved and runs along its own route with a gentle incline. It is suitable for cyclists of different ages and experience levels.

The Via del Sale also connects churches, castles and villages with woodland paths where deer, roe deer and squirrels can be observed. The route can be completed on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike.

Landscape

Lomellina is considered a flat landscape of water and land. It includes 60,000 hectares of rice fields, embankments, small villages and large estates. The Anello del Molino d'Isella offers a different impression of the landscape: here, a landscape of terraces with predominantly maize and rice cultivation is bordered by canals with vegetated banks. Changes in elevation are generally characterised by shrubs and trees with exotic species.

Culture

In the immediate surroundings of Pavia are the Casa del Foscolo palace, Palazzo Belcredi, Palazzo Bottigella - Gandini and Palazzo del Maino. Also located near Pavia are the Orto Botanico Pavia garden, the Giardini Malaspina gardens, Parco Leopardi and Parco della Vernavola.

The Certosa di Pavia combines art, architecture and tranquillity in the rural landscape of the Pavia plain to create a special visitor experience. Recognised museums in Pavia include the Musei Civici, with its archaeology and Early Middle Ages section.

Wine

The Le Valli del Vino route passes through the three historic wine-growing valleys of Versa, Scuropasso and Coppa in the Oltrepò Pavese. In Montecalvo Versiggia, the wine route combines Pinot Nero culture with small museums and historic wine cellars.

Other places

Other destination pages: Rosasco, Cava Manara, Vidigulfo, Rivoltella, Settimo, Castelletto Di Branduzzo, Santa Cristina, Sant'alessio Con Vialone, Rivanazzano, San Genesio Ed Uniti, Badia Pavese, Rovescala, Ruino, Cervesina, San Paolo, Villanova De' Beretti, Gropello Cairoli, San Martino Siccomario, Brallo Di Pregola, Bereguardo, Gambolò, Mortara, Semiana, Valverde, Stradella, Casorate Primo, Santa Maria Della Versa, Donelasco, Borgo Priolo, Siziano, Miradolo Terme, Torre D'isola, Casei Gerola, Montebello Della Battaglia, Castello D'agogna, Robbio, Arena Po, Santa Margherita, Casteggio, Cornale, Calvignano, Romagnese, San Zenone Al Po, Spessa, Moriano, Montescano, Rocca De' Giorgi, Montalto Pavese, Montù Beccaria, Sannazzaro De' Burgondi, Canneto, Dorno, Sala, Mede, Carbonara al Ticino, Godiasco, Val di Nizza, San Damiano Al Colle, Broni, Borgarello, Ceranova, San Giorgio di Lomellina, Ponte Nizza, Fortunago, Villanterio, Scaldasole, Tromello, Pieve Porto Morone, Zenevredo, Torre Beretti, Breme, Sartirana Lomellina, Carmine, Santa Giuletta, Marcignago, Cigognola, Cilavegna, Ferrera Erbognone, Ottobiano, Codevilla, Golferenzo, Bressana, Montesegale, Palestro, Casa Bianca, Zinasco Vecchio, Menconico.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lombardy.