Navigating the Po River between Oltrepò Pavese and the Po Valley

The Po is an important river that flows through several regions. The Oltrepò Pavese, with its flat, foothills, hills and mountains, is the area south of the Po, thus on its right bank, while on the left bank is the Lombard section of the Po Valley.

A number of towns in the Oltrepò Pavese area lie close to the Po and naturally have a long history linked to fishing and river trade, such as Arena Po, Bosnasco, Mezzanino, Portalbera, and Rea.

🏛️Fin from Roman times, in fact, this area was inhabited and exploited for its strategic position and fertile soil.
During the Renaissance and the Napoleonic era, the area saw an intensification of agricultural and commercial activity.
The Po was navigable and therefore essential for the transport of goods, especially wine, cereals and timber.

Today, although the Po River has lost its central role in transport, it remains a strong identity element for the area.

The villages near its banks retain a discreet charm: small towns with Romanesque churches, farmsteads and tree-lined embankments.

On the traces of the Pieve Parpanese on the banks of the Po

On the banks of the Po there is a small jewel that deserves to be illustrated.
Pieve Parpanese was an ancient village located near Arena Po just 600 metres from the current border with Emilia Romagna, along the course of the river.
It was a strategic centre with a customs port, much disputed between Piacenza and Pavia to the extent of being mentioned in official documents and involved in battles with skilled archers for control of the territory. It was part of the fief of Arena Po.
Then, almost suddenly, it disappeared from historical documents. According to some sources, it was ‘swallowed up’ by the Po, perhaps due to a devastating flood or a change in the course of the river. A vanished little Atlantis.

A new, smaller parish church called Pievetta was later built in its place. The church, rebuilt several times over time, is dedicated to Saint Gorgonio, but of the Pieve Parpanese remains the memory of a history of nature, of waters that erase with their impetuousness and of communities that resist.

Navigating the Po River

Images on the cover and in the article provided by All’AvamPOsto SUL FIUME di Destro Marco.

Boat trips

🛥️ The Po River offers the possibility of boat trips: exciting experiences in contact with nature, as well as moments of conviviality a little out of the ordinary. This is the case of river cruises with the LE DUE RIVE motorboat, from Frazione San Pietro to Portalbera.

🔭 River trips to admire landscapes, flora and fauna: mini-cruises perfect for those who delight in nature photography and birdwatching or for those who simply find it fascinating to catch a glimpse of ducks, herons, hawks, egrets and perhaps a kingfisher, if you are lucky is a small, graceful, shy bird, so it is difficult to see it, despite its bright colours.

🍹Anexcursion on the river with Navigare Fiume Po is more than just that: it is what you need for a tantalising aperitif at sunset or for a lantern-lit evening: the lanterns lit and flickering in the reflection of the water make the Po River look like a moving mosaic.
🏮Navigating on the Po River when darkness falls will not allow you to see the landscape, but such a scenic evening provides emotions that go far beyond that.

⚓Thanks to the passion for navigation and the skills and experience of ‘Condottiero’ Marco Destro at the helm of a typical flat-bottomed boat, you board in small groups and set off from Portalbera for an adventure to remember.

For river navigation experts, there is also the possibility of hiring boats without a driver.

🍽️Nei near the embarkation jetty in Portalbera, it is possible to have lunch or dinner at the restaurant All’AvamPOsto sul Grande Fiume, which overlooks the river bank.

River fish

🐟 The towns around the Po sometimes offer a few dishes based on river fish, such as pike and perch, on the menu: hors d’oeuvres, filled ravioli or risottos, and as a second course, dishes to be paired without hesitation with the excellent wines of the Oltrepò Pavese, such as Pinot Grigio and sparkling metodo classico.

Clearly the sea has enormous charm, but the rivers, and therefore also the Po, also offer very evocative views, especially at sunset, when the reflection of the colours of the sky catches the eye and the slow flow of the water seems to be an invitation to slow down the pace of the day.
Sitting on a boat everything changes: the perspective changes, the colours change, the sounds, the wind…

These are experiences to be had!