Borgo Priolo and its thousand-year history

Borgo Priolo stretches across the hills of the Oltrepò Pavese between two streams, the Coppa and the Schizzola.
It has a curious triangular shape marked by these two streams, with the tip near Rivazza and the base along the Monte Castelletto – Stefanago – Monte Fratello line. It has numerous hamlets distributed between the flat part, the low hill part and the high hill belt.

Cover image taken from the website of the Municipality of Borgo Priolo

A village with ancient roots

The municipality of Borgo Priolo was created in 1928 from the union of Staghiglione – which in the Middle Ages belonged first to the County of Tortona and then to the Feud of Casteggio – and Torre del Monte, but it actually boasts a thousand-year history dating back to Roman times.
In 1977, a Late Antique necropolis was discovered in Cappelletta (Torre del Monte), evidence of a very ancient settlement.
The first official mention of the village dates back to 1250, with the name Burgum Pirrioli cum Monte Sanctae Mariae.

Over the centuries, the territory came under the control of various noble families, including the Beccaria, Dal Pozzo and Dattili families.

Images taken from the website of the Municipality of Borgo Priolo

What to see in Borgo Priolo

• Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Guard at Torre del Monte (1938), an imposing polygonal structure with a bell tower ⛪
• Stefanago Castle, dominating the landscape with its medieval tower 🏰
• Villa Castello in Torrazzetta, an elegant historical residence and home of the Don Niso Dallavalle Foundation. It was the residence of several noble families, in particular the Marquises Serra, owners until the middle of the last century. It was also visited by Napoleon III in 1859. The 17th-century manor house was completed in the second half of the 19th century.
  The Villa-Castle is now owned by the Don Niso Dallavalle Foundation, which uses it both for conferences and ceremonies (historical building) and for spiritual activities.
• The Rocchetta di Casa Perotti, a three-storey 16th-century architectural complex in stone and river pebbles, with a tower from the Malaspina era. 🏰
• Parish Church of San Lorenzo Martire, located on a hill in Staghiglione, with an interesting 15th-century Madonna ⛪
• San Martino parish church, in San Martino de’ Bagozzi, with a valuable period organ. ⛪

Legends and curiosities

Stefanago Castle has always been at the centre of fascinating legends. According to a 19th-century tale, the structure was mysteriously built in just three nights thanks to a spell.
Another local legend tells of an eternal battle between the Lords of Stefanago and the Lords of Nebbiolo over the love of a maiden, with echoes of battles that can still be heard on stormy nights.
The oldest part of the castle is the tower that dates back to the 11th century, while the rest of the complex was completed in the 17th century.
It has well-preserved rooms, a dungeon and a beautiful garden. It is home to a winery.

Local flavours and traditions

Borgo Priolo is also renowned for its food and wine side, made up of typical products that tell of rural traditions:

• Brasadé di Staghiglione, the sweet ring-shaped doughnuts whose recipe dates back to the 19th century.
  They are prepared with a few ingredients: flour, sugar, butter and lard, first dipped in boiling water and then baked in wood-fired ovens. They are delicious.
• Wines
• Honey and local agricultural products, available from family-run farms such as Azienda Agricola Pianetta and Azienda Agricola Bruggia
• Handmade chocolate: an explosion of flavours with the products of Pura Delizia in the hamlet of Cappelletta

The wines of the Borgo Priolo lands

🍾 Borgo Priolo offers a wide choice of organic wines, thanks to the presence of wineries with organic certification 🌱 such as Castello di Stefanago, Percivalle, I Fradé, La Torrazzetta.

Azienda Vitivinicola Castello di Stefanago: a wide range of organic wines, ranging from sparkling wines using the ancestral method, vintage reds, white wines and orange wines (macerated whites). For some time now, it has been organising NWO – Natural Wines Oltrepo– in spring.
An unmissable event for those who want to discover the natural wines of producers from Oltrepò (and other regions).

Percivalle Organic Wines: a company in the locality of Torchi that produces wines such as Bonarda, Pinto Nero, Spumante Metodo Classico and Rielsing under an organic regime.

The Cantina I Fradé, in the locality of Boffenisio: two young brothers dedicated to the production of organic wines.
In fine weather they organise picnics in the vineyard. Wine-Food-Nature. What an experience!

Agriturismo La Torrazzetta: the family bought 29 hectares of farmland in 1934 and became the first organic farm in the area.

For those who want to savour traditional dishes, there are several opportunities including

Trattoria Quaglini in the hamlet of Schizzola Alta
Agriturismo Il Castagno in the hamlet of Biancanigi

Events and demonstrations

• Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption (15 August)
• Brasadé Festival (Easter Monday)
• Grape Festival (in September) 🍇

From its hills to its ancient residences, from its typical products to its folkloristic events, Borgo Priolo is a destination in the Oltrepò to be experienced with all the senses, even paragliding!