Brallo di Pregola, the southernmost tip of Oltrepò Pavese

Brallo di Pregola is a municipality in the Oltrepò Pavese between the Trebbia and Staffora Valleys .
It has two ‘firsts’: it is the southernmost municipality in Lombardy and is home to the highest peak in the Oltrepò Pavese: Mount Lesima (1,724 m). ⛰️
Of this mountain in the Ligurian and Lombardy Apennines, only a portion of the north-eastern slope falls to the province of Pavia. The rest falls to the province of Piacenza.

This borderland offers breathtaking landscapes, nature trails and even legendary events.

History of Brallo di Pregola in a nutshell

The history of Brallo di Pregola has its roots in antiquity, when the area was inhabited by Ligurian tribes.

In addition to being chosen as a village by the Ligurians, in Roman times the locality was marked on a military map of the IX Regio.

In the Middle Ages, the area was part of the territories of the House of Malaspina, which built a castle on a strategic promontory, unfortunately destroyed in 1571. 🏰

Over the centuries, the village changed its administration several times: it passed to Piedmont in 1848, became part of the province of Pavia in 1859, was annexed to the province of Piacenza in 1923 and returned definitively to the province of Pavia in 1925.
In 1958, the municipality took its current name, joining Brallo and Pregola.

In the coat of arms, the marquis’s crown is a reference to the Malaspina family, the castle recalls the ancient fortress located in the Brallo mountains, while the figure of the mountain emphasises the geographical position and altitude of the municipality.

Cover images from Appennino Bike Tour and Quatarob Pavia

The Road of Hannibal

According to legend, the Carthaginians led by Hannibal during the Second Punic War camped at Pian dell’Armà, before the Battle of the Trebbia. Their passage is said to be witnessed by an ancient route known as Hannibal’s Road: a mule track leading from Brallo to Cima Colletta and Monte Lesima.

What to see in Brallo di Pregola

The village holds many vestiges of its past, including:

• Parish Church of Sant’Agata Vergine e Martire: built in the 17th century on the remains of the former Oratory of San Rocco, it has a brick façade and a striking bell tower.
• Casaforte dei Malaspina (16th-17th century): ancient defensive residence near the village.
• Ethnographic Museum: under construction inside the former middle school, intended to house the visitor centre of the Le Torraie – Monte Lesima SCI.
• Rovaiolo Vecchio: a ghost town, evacuated after the Second World War because of landslides.
• Bosco dei Giganti: a centuries-old chestnut grove. 🌳 🌰 🌳 🌰 🌳

The Forest of the Giants

This is a monumental forest of chestnut trees between 500 and 800 years old, with some specimens over 5 m in diameter. These are truly imposing trees. Among the areas where they can best be admired are the area around the Bralello locality along the Sentiero dei Briganti and the area near the hamlet of Ponti.

The Brallo Pass and Monte Lesima

At an altitude of 951 m, the Brallo Pass links the Trebbia Valley and the Staffora Valley; it was an important transit route in the past, while today it is an ideal destination for nature lovers and outdoor sports enthusiasts.

Monte Lesima is part of the Le Torraie Nature Reserve, which from 2019 is officially a SCI, i.e. a Site of Community Importance. It is a protected area of almost 600 hectares known for the presence of wild orchids and one of the richest butterfly populations in Europe. On the summit is the Air Force geoid, a reference point for scientific surveys.

Events and traditions

Brallo di Pregola keeps its traditions alive with numerous annual events:

• Feast of Saint Lucy (Brallo, 13 December)
• Patronal Feast of St Roch (Pregola, 16 August)
• Brallo De.Co. Potato Festival (second Sunday in September)
• Chestnut Festival (third Sunday in October)
• Mountains of Paper (meetings with authors and publishers, July-August)

Tourism

🏨Brallo di Pregola offers several facilities to accommodate tourists and hiking enthusiasts:

• Park Hotel Olimpia Wellness (Pregola)
• Hotel ProdongoSPA (Localoità Prodongo)
• Agritourism Sulla Via del Sale (Frazione Piani di Lesima)
• Restaurant Pizzeria La Pineta (Brallo)

Local gastronomy

Tourists can sample the gastronomic excellence of the area, including:

• Molana (or Brallo cheese)
• Caciotte cheese from Cima Colletta
• Salame di Varzi PDO
• De.Co. potato of Brallo
• Honey
• Chestnuts
• Mushrooms

Brallo di Pregola is a place where nature merges with history. From the legendary paths of Hannibal to the panoramic peaks of Mount Lesima, passing through small villages and centuries-old forests, this corner of AltoOltrepò Pavese offers a unique experience.