A walk through the ancient streets of Varzi is one of the wonders that the Alto Oltrepò Pavese offers to tourists. It is an experience not to be missed, among cobbled streets, stone houses and small shops, where the only thing that gives voice to the historical centre is the sound of our footsteps and the chatter of those we meet on the street.
The charm of Varzi and its mediaeval core
The peculiar architecture of the medieval town centre, with its series of overlapping porticoes, adds to the uniqueness of the town, as does the presence of the ancient salami curing cellars. However, the history of Varzi is not only linked to the production of salami, but also to clay, and to recall the economic power that the town achieved thanks to the presence of kilns in the second half of the 19th century, there is a suggestive site: Vicolo della Maiolica (Majolica Street). It is adjacent to the base of the city walls and to the original building that protrudes from the wall itself, with the loopholes that were used to aim weapons.
Alleys not to be missed
Among the streets not to be missed are Via del Mercato, with its double row of arcades dating back to the 14th century, and Vicolo Dietro le Mura, which looks like a tunnel above the medieval walls. The heart of the fortified city is Via Di Dentro. This is where the administrative activities were carried out and where important private and religious buildings were erected over the centuries. In the 13th century it was the connecting road between the two gates - Porta Soprana and Porta Sottana - and until the middle of the 19th century it was the only road through Varzi.
