A real “wine-tour” in an important wine-producing area, to experience and taste the excellence of Piacenza. Two days between villages, castles and vineyards in Val d’Arda, one of the most beautiful valleys in the province of Piacenza, rich in history, art, culture and food and wine.
The itinerary starts from Castell’Arquato, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, for a walk through its ancient cobbled streets.
You can start from the lower village and go up to the monumental square, overlooked by the Duke's Fountain, the Tower and Palazzo del Podestà, the imposing Rocca Viscontea and the ancient Collegiate Church.
Do not miss an aperitif in the municipal winery overlooking the square!
Continuing towards the second stop, you reach the medieval village of Vigoleno, which is located in the municipal area of Vernasca. Here the Romanesque church of San Giorgio and the Scotti castle are a must.
The village is also well known for the production of Vin Santo, a particular wine aged for 6/7 years.
A visit to one of the local wineries producing this true rarity of Italian wine production is therefore also not to be missed.
The next day, returning to Castell’Arquato and passing it by about 6 km, you head to the village of Vigolo Marchese, which rises on the banks of the Chiavenna stream, surrounded by hills covered with vineyards.
Here there is a Romanesque complex of considerable importance: it is the Benedictine monastery dedicated to San Giovanni Battista, to which a church and a "hospitale" were annexed, that is a hospice for pilgrims who traveled the Via Francigena.
Here, in the ruins of an ancient Roman villa called La Pusterla today there is a wine shop, where we recommend a visit and tasting.
In the end, for the last leg of this itinerary, the Abbey of Chiaravalle della Colomba: an ancient Cistercian Benedictine monastery dating back to the year 1000 AD.
Here, after a visit to the Abbey, we recommend a tasting of the Abbey's products inside the distillery, where herbs are mixed into liquors. The Imperial Drops are a real panacea for digestion.
