Brallo di Pregola, a charming town on the southernmost border of Lombardy, lies on the pass between the Staffora and Trebbia valleys. With its borders reaching up to 1700 metres above sea level, it offers breathtaking views of the Monte Rosa Group and the majestic Alps. Its privileged position offers the eye a natural spectacle of rare beauty, but also many surprises, such as the Museum of Memories in Ponti, the ghost village of Rovaiolo and the waterfalls of Sant'Ettore.
The territory of the four provinces
In this area, called "the four provinces" because it is where Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia and Piedmont meet, the traditions and influences of different cultures are intertwined. The heritage of these lands is a fascinating mix of customs and peculiarities that reflect the encounter and exchange between different communities.
The road of Hannibal
In ancient times, this area was inhabited by the Ligurians, who are also the protagonists of a legendary story: they gave aid and support to Hannibal during the Second Punic War. In memory of this, there is still a path in the mountains called "Hannibal's road" and the legend that the Carthaginian armies camped at Pian dell'Armà before the battle of Trebbia.
The Malaspina family and the church of Saints Gervasius and Protasius
In the 12th century the Malaspina family built a castle on Mount Pregola, which was destroyed by fire five centuries later. In its place, the nobles, using some of the materials from the destroyed castle, built the present castle to the east of the town. The charming Church of Saints Gervasius and Protasius, in the hamlet of Someglio, was probably the parish church of the Malaspina family. It has a beautiful stone façade, a Romanesque bell tower and an interior paved in local stone. church dei Santi Gervasio e Protasio, alla frazione Someglio. Ha una bella facciata in pietra a vista, un campanile romanico e la pavimentazione interna in sassi locali.
Brallo di Pregola, synonymous with sport
Brallo di Pregola is a very popular tourist destination, both in winter and in summer. You can go skiing, snowmobiling through the chestnut woods, playing tennis in the Tourist Sports Centre, which also houses the Federal Tennis Centre, and of course trekking. The paths lead to the summit of Monte Lesima, the highest peak of the Ligurian-Piedmontese Apennines, less than 40 km as the crow flies from the Gulf of Tigullio: a magical place, surrounded by beech and hornbeam woods and orchids. Among butterflies and golden eagles.
From the peaks you can go down to the Trebbia river, where you can go fishing, canoeing and rafting in its green and blue waters. Those in search of relaxation will find comfort at the bathing establishment at Ponte Organasco.
Traditions come alive at the Museum of Memories
In order to preserve local traditions and historical memory, the hamlet of Ponti is home to the Museum of Memories, an extraordinary open-air exhibition that includes a water mill, a charcoal pile, an ice house and a beaten clay area - u balu - used for entertainment on festive days. Museum of Memories, una straordinaria esposizione a cielo aperto con la presenza di un mulino ad acqua, una carbonaia, una ghiacciaia e un’area in argilla battuta – u balu – che un tempo veniva allestita per il divertimento nei giorni di festa.
The ghost village
Nearby is one of the most evocative abandoned places in Lombardy: the ghost town of Rovaiolo. An ancient settlement, once lively and populated, now shrouded in a mysterious and fascinating atmosphere. Walking through its deserted streets and ruined houses, you can still feel the echoes of the past and imagine the life that once animated this place.
Rovaiolo Vecchio
The Sant'Ettore waterfalls
Continuing along the path that leads to the ghost town, you can admire another natural treasure: the Sant'Ettore waterfalls, the only river waterfalls in the entire territory of Pavia.
