Food festivals and events in Pavia e Oltrepo 2026
“From Pavia to the rolling hills of Oltrepò south of the Po, this is the land of Bonarda and Pinot Nero, of Salame di Varzi DOP and a rural tradition that carries the aromas of wine cellars and forests.”
Wine, salami and hills
Torta Paradiso was born in Pavia in the nineteenth century: the recipe is traditionally attributed to the Vigoni pastry shop.
Zuppa alla pavese was allegedly created to feed the King of France Francis I, who was taken prisoner after the Battle of Pavia in 1525.
Discovering the territory
Products, traditions and culture that make this land unique
Prodotti del Territorio
Pinot Nero dell'Oltrepò Pavese
The Oltrepò is Italy's most extensive Pinot Nero region, produced as a still wine and as the base for Classic Method sparkling wines.
Sangue di Giuda dell'Oltrepò Pavese
A sweet and sparkling red wine with a legendary name, an essential presence on festive tables.
A sweet bell pepper with a square fruit and succulent flesh, a pride of market gardening in the Pavia plains.
Piatti della Tradizione
Tradizioni e Cultura
Tradizioni Popolari
Fiera del Salame di Varzi
An event dedicated to Salame di Varzi DOP, featuring tastings and rural heritage celebrations.
Sagre del vino dell'Oltrepò
Autumn festivals in hillside villages celebrating the wine harvest and wines with protected designations.
Parchi e Aree Naturali
Parco Lombardo della Valle del Ticino
Italy's first regional park, it protects the course of the Ticino River among woodlands, oxbow lakes, and rice paddies.
Personaggi Illustri
Alessandro Volta
ScientistHe taught experimental physics at the University of Pavia, where he developed the electric battery.
Camillo Golgi
Doctor and scientistNobel Prize winner in medicine, he was a professor and rector of the University of Pavia.
Albert Einstein
ScientistHe lived in Pavia as a teenager, between 1894 and 1895, following his family's move from Germany.
Lo Sapevi Che…
“The University of Pavia, with origins dating back to 1361, is one of the oldest universities in Europe.”
“The Lomellina, with its vast rice paddies, is one of Europe's most extensive rice-growing areas.”
“Albert Einstein lived in Pavia as a teenager, following his family's move from Germany.”
Domande Frequenti
1What PDO and PGI products are found in Pavia and Oltrepò?expand_more
Pavia and Oltrepò are home to protected designation products including Salame di Varzi (DOP) and the wines Bonarda, Pinot Nero, and Sangue di Giuda dell'Oltrepò Pavese (DOC), as well as Peperone di Voghera (PAT).
2What should you eat in Pavia and Oltrepò?expand_more
Typical dishes of Pavia and Oltrepò include Zuppa alla pavese, Risotto con le rane, Brasato all'Oltrepò, and Torta Paradiso.
3What are the wines of Oltrepò Pavese?expand_more
The Oltrepò Pavese is famous for Bonarda, Pinot Nero, and Sangue di Giuda; it is also Italy's most extensive Pinot Nero region and serves as the base for Classic Method sparkling wines.
4What natural parks are there in Pavia and Oltrepò?expand_more
The territory is crossed by the Parco Lombardo della Valle del Ticino, Italy's first regional park.
5What are the most famous festivals in Pavia and Oltrepò?expand_more
Among the most celebrated events are the Festival del Salame di Varzi DOP and the wine festivals of the Oltrepò, which enliven the hillside villages in autumn.