Varzi

Around one hour from Pavia and 90 km from Milan in the heart of the Valle Staffore, we kick off our tour in Varzi, a small village where a relaxed pace of life and genuine flavours are the order to the day.

A place with eight centuries of history, including stone walls, medieval architecture, old fortifications and both Renaissance and Baroque elements, this is a great location for spending some quality time.. The village’s Medieval centre, with its narrow streets lined with stone houses and its distinctive archways, over which tower the majestic Torre di Porta Soprana and Torre di Porta Sottana, is an absolute must-see. 
What makes Varzi a truly irresistible destination however  is its traditional cuisine, handed down from generation to generation, its stars including porcini mushroom risotto, tripe with white beans and cod with onions. The village’s true pride, however, and one which features on the menu of practically every local restaurant, has to be its outstanding ravioli di brasato , a dish with noble origins due to its use of a special braised beef filling rather than off-cuts and leftovers, which requires a level of culinary technique and skill in order to properly prepare it. In addition to main meals, the village’s gastronomy also shines when it comes to snacks,  an opportunity to gather around a the tabe to sample of a plate of  salame di Varzi accompanied by  micca, the region’s traditional braided durum wheat bread.