Val d’Arda among villages, castles and wine

The itinerary starts from Castell’Arquato, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, for a walk through its ancient cobbled streets. 

To visit

You can start from the lower village and go up to the monumental square

• the Duke's Fountain
• the Tower and Palazzo del Podestà
• the imposing Rocca Viscontea
• the ancient Collegiate Church

To taste

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. 

Must-see

Here the Romanesque church of San Giorgio and the Scotti castle are a must.

To taste

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.

To visit

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.

To taste

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.

At the end of the day, you can visit the Abbey of Chiaravalle della Colomba: an ancient Cistercian Benedictine monastery dating back to the year 1000 AD. 

To taste

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.

On the third day, in the morning, explore the Castle of San Pietro in Cerro, crossing the lower Po Valley to the Po River. 
The structure contains about thirty richly furnished rooms, two halls of honour, kitchens and prisons.

Must-sees

• the MIM (Museum in Motion), a collection of 1,500 works of contemporary art exhibited on a rotating basis in the castle's attic
• the exhibition Millennial China - The Warriors of Xi'an, which is set up in the basement.

After visiting the castle, in the afternoon, continue on to Isola Giarola Park.

Curiosity

This is a natural area shaped by the River Po and partly modified by man, with the creation of a lake on the right bank of the river, in the floodplain area bounded by the Arda, Ongina and Cavo Fontana streams.

Tip

Starting from Isola Giarola, there are several cycling routes to choose from:

• a visit to the park and a tour of the lake 
• a route through the cherry blossoms in Villanova and the nearby hamlet of Soarza (especially recommended in spring)
• a route through the Terre Verdiane and towards the food and wine trails of culatello (Zibello and Polesine)

To taste

As a gastronomic stop, we recommend lunch or dinner based on river fish at Isola Serafini, near Monticelli d'Ongina. The marinated eel paired with Ortrugo Spumante from Val d'Arda is a must-try.