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Oliva Gessi is a small municipality with 162 inhabitants, located in the hills of the Oltrepò Pavese, between Casteggio and Montalto Pavese, near the Rile San Zeno and Verzate streams. The second part of its name comes from the gypsum deposits, historically exploited and situated in the locality of Gessi.

Oliva Gessi is home to the M. Defilippi Theatre, which, with its 100 seats in relation to its 175 inhabitants, can be considered one of the largest in Europe. The local parish church is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. Inside, there is a statue of Luigi Versiglia, a Salesian bishop and martyr who was killed in China in 1930 and canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. In front of the church entrance, the "Path of the Martyrs" (Salita dei Martiri) was erected in honor of Saint Luigi Versiglia and Saint Callistus Caravario. In the center of Oliva, there stands a castle that the Isimbardi family transformed into a noble residence in the first half of the 19th century.

THE CASTLE

The castle has a quadrilateral layout, with a central courtyard and a large carriage entrance on the eastern side. A high wall encloses the castle on three sides, and the existence of a tower is hypothesized due to a protrusion on the northern side. These structures have undergone several modifications over time, eventually forming the quadrilateral complex that still stands at the highest point of the small village. Today, the castle is privately owned.
Since 1999, the Antica Corte has hosted opera and symphonic concerts as part of the Ultrapadum Festival.

BIRTHPLACE OF SAINT LUIGI VERSIGLIA

Personal belongings, memorabilia from his life in China, photographs, documents, and other artifacts are carefully preserved for both religious pilgrims and general visitors.

SOURCE: www.borghiecastelli.eu

PHOTO: Piermaria Greppi Scotti