The Salumiere di Casanova Staffora Museum: a tribute to Salame di Varzi and the art of pork butchery in the Oltrepò Pavese area

In the Upper Staffora Valley, where the fresh mountain air caresses the hills of the Oltrepò Pavese, a small museum celebrates one of the territory’s symbolic products: Salame di Varzi DOP. In Casanova Staffora, a hamlet of Santa Margherita di Staffora, the Salumiere Museum has come to life, the latest in the rich network of rural museums of the Oltrepò, thanks to the initiative of the historic Salumeria Dedomenici.

Cover image taken from the Salumificio Dedomenici website

A homage to the local pork tradition

The museum was created with a precise intent: to promote the art of salami, and in particular the famous Salame di Varzi, known far beyond the borders of Lombardy. Through ancient tools, carefully recovered and restored, the museum tells the story of how our grandparents and great-grandparents produced salami long before the advent of modern technology.

Each piece on display represents a piece of the area’s gastronomic identity, rooted in centuries of peasant culture and in a codified and rigorous workmanship that has remained virtually unchanged over time.

Preserved and passed on knowledge

Inside the museum, you can discover technical details and curiosities about the salami production process: from the selection of meat to spicing, from stuffing in natural casings to maturing in suitable premises. A journey that shows how much knowledge, care and skill are needed to make a PDO-certified product such as Salame di Varzi.

The museum is a concrete testimony to the passion with which the area’s historic workshops continue to work, handing down a precious gastronomic culture, made up of manual skills, respect for time and attention to detail.

Useful information for the visit

• Name: Charcuterie Museum
• Location: Casanova Staffora, Santa Margherita di Staffora (PV)
• Foundation: private initiative of Salumeria Dedomenici
• Topics: history of salami production, ancient tools, traditional procedure of Salame di Varzi PDO
• Hours: on request – contact Salumeria Dedomenici directly
• How to get there: Casanova Staffora can be reached by following the SP186 from Varzi. Parking available in the area. The museum is located near the Pellegro Mill, allowing a joint visit of taste and history.