Holiday apartment in Breme: Abbey, river landscape and local cuisine

Holiday apartment in Breme: Hilltop, rivers and regional cuisine

Breme is located on the “Costa Rubea” hilltop at the confluence of the Po and Sesia. The surrounding area is fertile and lush. This brings together an elevated location, the landscape of two rivers and a densely green environment in the town. In addition to the river landscape, there is the San Pietro Abbey, other religious buildings and regional specialities. The landscape around Breme thus combines the hilltop with the specific meeting point of the Po and Sesia.

San Pietro Abbey and other religious buildings

Donniverto, the last abbot of Novalesa and the first abbot of Breme, had a monastery dedicated to Saint Peter built in Breme. In its surviving monastic areas, San Pietro Abbey also preserves a historic kitchen. The surviving crypt of the abbey dates from around the middle of the 10th century. On the right-hand side of the abbey church is Breme’s early Christian baptistery; its exterior is polygonal. The kitchen, crypt and baptistery therefore form different specific points of reference within the abbey complex.

The rural Oratory of Santa Maria di Pollicino is also part of the abbey’s surroundings. It is located about 2 km from Breme on the road to Candia Lomellina. For spatial planning, this means that, in addition to the abbey complex, there is also a destination along this road.

Trails to the river landscape and nature

A green trail leads from Breme to the Garzaia del Bosco Basso. A yellow trail leads to the confluence of the Po and Sesia. The colour distinction makes it easier to assign the two destinations: the Garzaia and the confluence represent two different landscape destinations. When planning your day, you can therefore choose nature observation or the river landscape as your focus without losing sight of Breme as your starting point.

Cipolla Rossa di Breme and regional specialities

In June 2008, the municipality of Breme introduced the De.C.O. designation for “Cipolla Rossa di Breme”. The onion is the first Slow Food Presidio in Lomellina and is known as “la dolcissima”. Baruat is a traditional dish from Breme made with onions, fresh tomatoes and frogs, served with polenta.

The “Sagra della cipolla rossa di Breme De.C.O.” is held on the second and third Sunday of June; typical dishes from Breme’s culinary tradition, from antipasti to dessert and gelato, are offered for tasting there. The fixed date in June adds a seasonal accent to Breme’s culinary themes. After the route, the “Merenda del Frate”, featuring typical products from Lomellina, can be enjoyed by reservation in the abbey park or in local trattorias. Those who wish to combine the cuisine with the trails can therefore include the Sagra as an event date and the Merenda as a separately reservable addition in their plans.

More destinations for your travel plans

If you would like to extend your travel plans beyond Breme, you can also discover Tromello, Casei Gerola, Vidigulfo, Cornale, San Paolo, Canneto, Robbio and Codevilla.

For the overarching travel overview: Pavia.