The village of Zavattarello is one of the wonders of the Oltrepò Pavese, surrounded by hills in a panoramic position. The uncontaminated nature has favoured the production of honey since the 19th century, started by Luigi Dal Verme. The Count's honey was so successful that it won numerous awards, giving rise to a beekeeping tradition that has grown from strength to strength and has brought Zavattarello to the Olympus of the Goccia d'Oro (Golden Drop), so coveted by honey producers.
The castle
A maze of alleys and cobbled streets, dotted with ancient stone houses, make up the historic centre, from which a climb leads to one of the most interesting monuments: Dal Verme Castle, surrounded by a large protected park. Used over the centuries as a defensive fortress and noble residence, the castle is now owned by the town council. Built on a relief, from the top of the tower you can see the hills of the Oltrepò Pavese and Val Tidone valleys as far as the Po valley. The castle has about forty rooms on a unique system of several levels, connected by various internal secondary staircases. At one time there was no vegetation around the castle, so that those who had to defend it could see any attackers. Today, however, the greenery surrounding the castle is a protected area, a local park of supra-municipal interest, covering approximately 79 hectares.
The castle was of great historical importance and was the seat of one of the most important schools of warfare in Europe, founded by Jacopo Dal Verme.
It is also open to the public for guided tours and houses a museum of contemporary art. https://www.castellodalverme.com/
The church
Another place of interest is the church of San Paolo Apostolo, first mentioned in 929, when the monks of Bobbio stopped here while transporting the remains of St. Columbanus to Pavia. Over the centuries the church has undergone many changes, and in the 18th century a new façade was built on top of the original one. The one we see today. In the apse there is a large altarpiece in gilded wood from the early 17th century with an oil painting from the 15th century depicting the Madonna with Child and the
The storehouse of memories
The most curious cannot miss the appointment with the 'Warehouse of Memories', at the Mirani farmstead. A collection of ancient objects of daily life, working tools of local craftsmen, and much more, to get to know more than a century of traditions that testify to the history of work and human toil.
Nature and the enchanted wood
From the park around Zavattarello Castle there are several paths from which to venture along the Via del Sale, the Via di San Colombano and the Via delle sorgenti del Tidone. At the foot of the castle there is also the Enchanted Forest: a fairytale path where children can come across the Smurfs' Village, meet Pinocchio, be seduced by talking trees, play with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Not to be missed is the Goose Tour, a path that starts in Piazza Dal Verme and spirals around the castle hill, until it rejoins the road leading to the fortress.
Where to eat
One of the wonders of Zavattarello are the mushrooms, which are served fried in the restaurants or as an accompaniment to tagliatelle and risottos. Other typical dishes are braised ravioli and game with polenta. But no lunch is complete without tasting the salami and speck cured according to the ancient traditions of Oltrepadane.
