Holiday Apartment in Varzi: History, Trails and Salame di Varzi

Varzi lies in the Staffora Valley, in the heart of the Oltrepò Pavese. The town combines a medieval town center with trails through the countryside and its own culinary tradition.

Greenway and Via del Sale

The completed Voghera–Varzi Greenway runs all the way to Varzi and is 33 kilometers long in total. The hillier section from Salice Terme to Varzi covers 19 kilometers. The full route and the hillier section therefore emphasize different aspects: the complete connection in one case, and the 19-kilometer stretch from Salice Terme to Varzi in the other. Another prominent point of reference is the Via del Sale: it begins in Varzi, heads toward the Penice and Brallo passes, and is approximately 70 kilometers long. Alongside the Greenway, the Via del Sale is therefore a separate route running toward the Penice and Brallo passes.

Badlands between clay and silt

The “Tour I CALANCHI di NIVIONE” trail also passes through the badlands. These are spectacular ridges of clay and silt shaped by time and rainwater. The distinctive nature of this landscape creates a clear contrast with the paved structures and streets in the town center.

Medieval traces in the town center

The medieval town center of Varzi preserves architectural evidence of eight centuries of history in its churches, towers and castle. Via del Mercato is lined by two rows of arcades built between the 14th and 16th centuries. The base of Varzi’s defensive wall borders Via della Maiolica. A structure projects from the wall there; it has loopholes used for aiming weapons. Vicolo Dietro le Mura forms a tunnel above the medieval defensive wall. The residential buildings there have their main entrance on Via Porta Nuova. The loopholes belong to the structure projecting from the wall, while the Vicolo tunnel runs above the line of the wall.

Torre Malaspina and views over the valley

Torre Malaspina – also known as Torre delle Streghe – stands in Piazza del Municipio in Varzi’s town center. It was built between the 12th and 13th centuries at the behest of the Malaspina family. When open to the public, its viewing terrace offers a 360-degree view over Varzi and the Staffora Valley. The two names Torre Malaspina and Torre delle Streghe refer to the same structure in Piazza del Municipio.

Salame di Varzi PDO

Salame di Varzi PDO is also part of the town’s character. It is a raw, cured, coarse-grained sausage made from lean and fatty pork. In addition to the municipality of Varzi, after which it is named, the production area includes 14 other municipalities in the mountainous Oltrepò Pavese of the Province of Pavia in the Lombardy region. The designated area therefore extends beyond the municipality of Varzi while remaining within the mountainous Oltrepò Pavese of the Province of Pavia.

More places for planning your trip

If you would like to discover more places in the same region from Varzi, you can find the corresponding destinations here: San Damiano Al Colle, Semiana, Cervesina, San Paolo, Bressana, Sant'alessio Con Vialone, Sartirana Lomellina, San Giorgio di Lomellina.

For the overarching travel overview: Pavia.