The route of the brigands is an itinerary that crosses the places where criminals operated in the area of Oltrepò Pavese. It takes its name from the brigands who, in the 18th and 19th centuries, infested the area, committing thefts and robberies. Today it is a route with many interesting points, reconstructed thanks to oral sources and tradition.
The itinerary starts from Brallo di Pregola to reach the hamlet of Bralello, crosses it and descends along a mule track towards the Bosco dei Giganti (Wood of the Giants), a picturesque area of secular chestnut trees.
Past the chestnut grove, the descent becomes steeper and continues until you reach the ruins of the Cognassi Mill, an ancient stone structure characterised by its very narrow wheel, almost ten metres high, which is still clearly visible and which was powered by the water of the Fosso del Freddo, which has its source at Cima Colletta.
Continue along the Montagnola stream and in about 30 minutes you will reach the Grotta dei Briganti, made up of huge granite boulders, an ancient refuge for groups of brigands who, after attacking caravans or travellers, would hide there, safe in the knowledge that no one would dare climb up to look for them.
From the cave, continue for about 15 minutes, crossing the Rio Montagnola for the last time and reaching the hamlet of Fego, opposite Cegni.
The itinerary is easy, a 10 km walk, with the possibility of stopping for a picnic.
A bit of history
From the Middle Ages until the end of the 19th century, the Oltrepò Pavese was a land of brigands and malefactors. Thanks to the Via del Sale, merchants returning from Genoa, laden with goods, risked theft and sometimes even their lives. The phenomenon of banditry was so widespread that the Malaspina even thought of exploiting it by imposing a kind of tax on the robbers in exchange for their impunity. The terrain was fertile. For centuries, every day, in all weathers, caravans of muleteers, travellers, pilgrims and even brigands passed along these paths, where trade and commerce took place.
The hills, woods and forests of the Oltrepò Pavese were the ideal terrain for brigands. Even during the Napoleonic period, this was the area where bandits concentrated their activities, plundering the village roads of the area. After the fall of Napoleon, the return of the Austrians to Lombardy made the area a place of confrontation between Austrian and Italian troops. During this period, brigands often joined the Italian troops, fighting against the Austrians and gathering information on their movements. With the unification of Italy in 1861, the Italian authorities cracked down on brigandage. Many brigands were arrested and killed, and banditry gradually declined. However, some groups of brigands continued to operate in the Oltrepò pavese. Until the end of the 19th century.
The word brigand
The etymology of the word 'brigante' comes from the Latin 'brigare', meaning to fight. The term was used in Italy to refer to a person who committed crimes, particularly looting and robbery, often with the use of violence. Brigandage was a serious problem in many parts of Italy, where poverty and political instability created ideal conditions for the development of bands of brigands. It is important to note, however, that the term 'brigand' did not always have a negative connotation. In the past, the term was often used to describe a rebel or freedom fighter who opposed established power. For example, during the Italian Risorgimento, many patriots who fought for the independence of Italy were called brigands by the Austrian authorities who ruled the country.
