Insider Pavia

Pavia, Vigevano, the Oltrepò countryside, the villages. Discover seven tips for a special “local” trip.

The Tre Laghi Park? “A riot of colours”. Borgo Ticino? “It's our Burano”. The Lomellina under the snow? “A surprise”. So says a special guide who knows the Pavese area very well.

Our Insider? Scila Mazzoleri. Passionate about photography, especially travel photography since childhood, she likes to reveal the treasures of her local area through her Instagram profile. Pavia? “It's my second home. I share my coffees, croissants and focaccia with her... Slow Mondays and Fridays that end with an aperitif in the square... I love Pavia and in return she reveals wonders to me”. Discover her advice to experience Pavese in all its nuances.

To discover other destinations outside the usual routes follow #INSIDERinLombardia on the social networks. With us, apart from Scila, there is a large team of “photo ambassadors” invited to tell you about cities, mountains, lakes, villages, first-hand experiences.

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Here are Scila’s tips (on Instagram for those who are curious at @sm.turandot).

Gravellona and the Parco dei Tre Laghi: art, nature and fantasy — “Wear walking boots and don't forget your camera: in autumn you mustn’t miss the show offered by the Parco dei Tre Laghi at Gravellona Lomellina, one of the “painted villages”. Since the 1990s, the walls of its houses have been painted with murals that reproduce nineteenth-century works of art: it offers an open-air museum, complete with an audio guide on your phone!”

A walk through medieval Lomello — “The treasure here is the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the most excellent examples of Lombard Romanesque architecture. But even just a stroll through the cobbled streets of the village will give you great emotions, making you feel catapulted into the age of knights, ladies, jesters, archers and falconers, kings and queens. At the beginning of June, don’t miss the historical re-enactment of the marriage between Queen Teodolinda and Agilulfo, Duke of Turin.”

University of Pavia, a glorious university — “Those who, like me, studied in Pavia, will have the University forever in their heart. The university in Corso Strada Nuova is one of the oldest universities in Europe; here they taught people of the calibre of Alessandro Volta and Ugo Foscolo. Walking under its arcades is a real privilege! If you want to know more, I recommend a visit to the Museo per la Storia dell’Università. Among the treasures are the anatomical drawings by Antonio Scarpa, produced in the second half of the eighteenth century.”

Piazza Ducale in Vigevano, the drawing room of Italy — “If you want to have a coffee in the province of Pavia, surrounded by arcades and arches supported by 84 columns with capitals that all differ from each other, then the Piazza Ducale in Vigevano, one of the most beautiful Renaissance squares in Italy, is certainly the perfect place! Three experiences not to be missed? The climb to the Tower, the visit to the museums of the Castle and the Ducal Stables. A short stroll past the historic shops under the arcades rounds off a great trip.”

A dive into nature in the Ticino Park — "Dedicated to those who love taking a dive into nature. Trekking, canoeing, riding, thematic trails... From Vigevano to Bereguardo and on to Pavia, the Ticino Park offers numerous walks suitable for everyone, many practicable even in winter. And here’s one not to be missed: the Ronchi circuit, a route in stages between the municipalities of Vigevano, Gambolò and Borgo San Siro, passing via the "Sentiero delle Farfalle” (the Butterflies path). An itinerary of about 20 km which you can do on a bike, on dirt tracks and trails in the woods.”

Among the picturesque colours of Borgo Ticino — “It's a bit like the little Burano in Venice. Borgo Ticino is the most authentic soul of Pavia: the colourful houses of the fishermen in Via Milazzo, near the Ticino, the artisans' shops and the scents of food emerging from the inns make everything very picturesque. Eating a tasty risotto and drinking good Bonarda while looking at the covered bridge is a real pleasure!”

Fairy-tale Lomellina — “With about 80,000 hectares entirely dedicated to rice fields, Pavia is the Italian capital of rice. In Lomellina in spring there is an unmissable event: the flooding of the countryside.The rice grows thanks to the constant temperature of the soil covered with water. The show is difficult to describe in words, with the mirrors of water shining in the sun. But the Lomellina is also rich in large poplar groves. When it snows they provide another unmissable show.”

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