Pavia between Trails, Nature and Culture

Pavia opens up a world of trails, waterways and cultural attractions. The Via del Sale connects churches, castles and villages with forest paths where deer, roe deer and squirrels can be spotted. It can be explored on foot, horseback or by mountain bike.

Culture

Several palaces are located in the vicinity of Pavia: Casa del Foscolo, Palazzo Belcredi, Palazzo Bottigella - Gandini and Palazzo del Maino. In Pavia, the Musei Civici are among the city’s renowned museums; they include a section dedicated to archaeology and the Early Middle Ages. In the rural landscape of the Pavia Plain, the Certosa di Pavia combines art, architecture and tranquillity to create a special visitor experience.

Gardens

There are also gardens and parks in the vicinity of Pavia. These include the Orto Botanico Pavia garden, the Giardini Malaspina gardens, Parco Leopardi and Parco della Vernavola.

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 waterways, rivers, canals, fields and rice paddies. The route also passes through habitats of wild animals and birds.

The Voghera–Varzi Greenway begins at Voghera railway station and ends in Varzi. More than 33 km of it is paved, following its own route with a gentle incline, making it suitable for cyclists of different ages and experience levels. The route includes a 14 km flat section from Voghera to Salice Terme and a 19 km hilly section from Salice Terme to Varzi.

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 the towpaths of canals. Parco del Ticino can be explored on foot, by bicycle, canoe or horseback. In the province of Pavia, Pavia, Vigevano, Garlasco and Zerbolò are among the places included in this nature park.

The Anello delle Streghe follows the Ticino embankment to the slow-flowing Ramo delle Streghe. Typical aquatic plants such as water lilies, water crowfoot and yellow irises grow there, along with amphibians and reptiles. 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 summit of Monte Alpe. Hiking trails through forests and meadows lead to viewpoints and are suitable for different fitness levels.

Along the Anello del Molino d'Isella, the landscape consists of terraces mainly used for growing corn and rice. Canals with vegetated banks border these areas; the terrain steps are generally characterised by stands of trees and shrubs with exotic species.

Landscape

Lomellina is regarded as a flat landscape of water and land. It comprises 60,000 hectares of rice fields, embankments, small villages and large farm estates.

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 Noir culture with small museums and historic wine cellars.

Further destination pages: Brallo Di Pregola, Brescia, Varese, Bergamo, Como, Lecco, Sondrio.

To the main travel overview: Lombardy.