Horti is a green area in the historic centre of Pavia that is fully accessible to people with disabilities

Created by the Rotary Club Valle Staffora in collaboration with the Nuova Pro Loco and the Municipality of Retorbido, the Big Bench, the giant bench, is part of the Big Bench Community Project, number 124 of the project. The Big Bench located in Retorbido was installed in the airy and peaceful tranquility of the "colle delle Torricelle" (hill of Torricelle), from where you can enjoy an enviable panorama that spans from the Maritime Alps to the Brescia Prealps. From the hill, you can enjoy incredible views of the surrounding vineyards, the Madonna del Monte of Rivanazzano, and Retorbido itself. The more keen observers claim that, in particular weather conditions, it is even possible to see the monastery of the Sacra di San Michele, an iconic symbol of the Piedmont region, located at the entrance to the Val di Susa. To reach the bench, enter Retorbido from the roundabout of Bressana-Salice Terme, cross the village until you reach Via Torricelle. We suggest parking your car in Via Meardi and walking up Via Torricelle to the bench. The bench is also accessible by bike from the nearby GreenWay Voghera Varzi. For those who love walks and landscapes, for those who love running and wellness, 5 km of pure nature and relaxation with L'ANELLO DI RETORBIDO, 5 KM BETWEEN BIG BENCH, NATURE, AND LANDSCAPES.

Among rows of vines with perfect geometries that cross small villages rich in history, traditions, farms, cellars and signs of human activity: discover Franciacorta

Nicknamed the "Lioness of Italy", it displays great tourist qualities thanks to its rich artistic and environmental heritage

Villa Carlotta was built in 1690 by the Marquis Giorgio Clerici: while the building is quite magnificent, it is actually quite simple when compared to other villas of the time. In 1795 it became the property of Giambattista Sommariva, a Napoleonic entrepreneur, great collector and a personal friend of Antonio Canova. The villa, which houses an art collection of immeasurable worth, is divided into three floors (two of which are open to visitors). The site offers a view of the Bellagio peninsula along with the mountains that surround the lake. The town of Tremezzo overlooking the water with low houses with arcades in one of the most beautiful spots of the Lario. Behind the villa, narrow stairs lead up to the houses clinging to the mountain. From the front of the villa you can see the vast central basin of the lake, the promontory of Bellagio, the rocky Grigne Mountains and the villages scattered along the eastern shore. At the end of the town, on the lake, is the sumptuous Villa Carlotta, named after the woman who was given the property as a wedding gift from her mother, Princess Marianne of Prussia. The villa, built in Baroque style in the early 1700s, has a beautiful terraced garden teeming with over 500 species of flowering plants that thrive in the area's mild climate. In the garden we can find pergolas of citrus, hedges of camellias, 150 varieties of azaleas (at their peak from April to May), rhododendrons, tropical plants, the valley of Australian ferns, palms, cedars, the garden of bamboo and secular coniferous trees. The greenhouse used in winter for citrus fruits has been converted into an interesting museum of old farming tools.

The route connecting Romagnese to Santa Margherita di Staffora features two rather long climbs, with a total elevation gain of about 1000 meters. Romagnese is located in the Upper Val Tidone, in the mountainous area of Oltrepò Pavese, easily accessible by following the old SS412 road. It is not far from the Passo Penice. Romagnese lies at an altitude of 650 meters, a prestigious summer and winter resort due to its healthy air. According to tradition, rooted in legend, the ancient village of Romagnese (Castrum Romaniense) is said to have originated from a camp of Roman legionaries who fled after their defeat in the Battle of the Trebbia River at the hands of Hannibal's troops during the Second Punic War (218 BC). Leaving Romagnese, the route climbs up to the scenic Strada di Costa d’Alpe, from which it descends to Piano Margarino and Menconico. A second, less demanding climb leads to Costa Roncassi, and the final 3 km of descent take you to Santa Margherita di Staffora. The itinerary passes through the Monte Alpe Nature Reserve and the village of Menconico. Monte Alpe is interesting both for its chestnut groves and grassy areas, as well as for the presence of artificial conifer plantations (black pine, Scots pine, and larch), which were almost entirely destroyed by fire and later subjected to restoration efforts to promote spontaneous vegetation. There are also petrifying springs that form travertine, particularly valuable for the protection of European habitats. The history of Menconico is closely tied to that of Monte Penice, located near the boundary of the municipality. The toponym Penice, formerly known as "Mons Conicus," is thought to have given the village its name, which means "the place of large rocks." It is said that a pagan temple once stood on the summit of Monte Penice. The land was gifted to Saint Columbanus by Aldovald, son of King Agilulf. Tradition holds that Queen Theodolinda passed through here in 613 on her way to Bobbio to visit Saint Columbanus. The route ends in the municipality of Santa Margherita di Staffora, at 546 meters above sea level, in the mountainous area of Oltrepò Pavese, in the upper Staffora valley. Above the fortress of Santa Margherita, the church is clearly visible, offering a panoramic view of much of the valley. On the side, partially hidden from the provincial road, the remains of the manor/castle, once owned by the Malaspina marquises, are still visible.

Villa Carlotta, located on the shores of Lake Como near the village of Tremezzo, is a triumph of natural and architectural beauty.

Featuring mills, lotus flowers and strips of riverine forest, the Mincio cycleway is the birthplace of cycling tourism in Lombardy

Brallo di Pregola is in the heart of the Apennines on the border between the provinces of Piacenza, Genoa and Alessandria and it is precisely for this reason that the area can be called the 'land of four provinces', a place in which different traditions, cultures and dialects meet. Standing in a panoramic position above the town, the church of Sant’Agata is now merely a ruined perimeter. This dependency of the monastery of San Colombano di Bobbio is definitely reported only in the ninth century, but the archaeological relics found here show that it has an even older history, which dates at least from the seventh century, the era of San Colombano and the Longobard kings.

Among paintings, Monasteries, Basilicas: a treasure to be discovered in Lombardy

The magnificence of the mountains gives way to superb panoramas where unspoiled nature will envelope you in an unforgettable experience