Montebello della Battaglia: land of epic stories, nobility and flowers

Whoever arrives in Montebello della Battaglia, in the heart of the Oltrepò Pavese, discovers a village nestled on a natural terrace that joins the hills of the Schizzola valley to the plain. Its name immediately tells of its past: a land of epic battles, noble residences and picture-postcard landscapes.

Cover image taken from the FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano Facebook page

From Mons Belli to Montebello: the land of battles

The origin of the name Montebello might suggest the beauty of the hilly landscape, but it is more likely to derive from the Latin Mons Belli – ‘mountain of war’ – referring to the battle of Clastidium (Casteggio) in 222 BC.
Mumbèl is its name in the Oltrepadano dialect.

The history of Montebello della Battaglia

The village has Roman origins and officially appears in a papal bull of 1094.
It was an imperial fief under Frederick Barbarossa and the scene of the Peace of Montebello in 1175, between the Emperor and the Lombard League.
The military history that touched the village in earlier times is linked to two key episodes:

• 9 June 1800: Napoleon’s victory of General Lannes over the Austrians
• 20 May 1859: first battle of the Second War of Independence, leading to Italian unification

In memory of this historic event, the name became Montebello della Battaglia by presidential decree in 1958.

Historic boulevards, churches and noble palaces

The itinerary through the streets of Montebello della Battaglia can start from viale Rimembranza, lined with lime trees and commemorative plaques. At the end of the avenue stands the 1859 war memorial in Veronese stone, inaugurated by the Savoy princes.

Next to it stands the parish church of Saints Gervasio and Protasio (1671), in Baroque style, which has housed the relics of Saint Felicissimo since 1686, carried in procession every seven years. The base of the bell tower, on the other hand, dates back to Roman times.

Historic palaces and villas not to be missed

The village has vast green spaces: these are the parks of several noble residences.

• Palazzo De’ Ghislanzoni. The date of construction of Palazzo De Ghislanzoni appears to date back to the mid-1700s, judging by the architectural style that can be placed in the late Lombard Baroque period. The building and the stable are made of exposed brick. The inner garden, with a portico, is beautiful. Umberto di Savoia stayed in this building for one night in 1926.
• Palazzo Dal Pozzo, with a corner tower and historical archive over 700 years old. It was the residence of the Counts Dal Pozzo. The building is imposing in appearance, in the shape of a quadrilateral and inside boasts a large courtyard with porticoes on two sides. In the second half of the 17th century, the Girolamini Monks took over.
• Villa Lomellini, a spacious and elegant residence, is now an events venue, equipped with conference rooms, rooms, a restaurant and a wonderful park with several species of plants, including the Cedar of Lebanon.
• Palazzo Bellisomi: also known as Palazzo Rosso. It is a splendid 18th-century villa, now a location for weddings and events. a Lombard farmhouse, it has a large garden with centuries-old trees to provide shade in which there are statues, fountains, anancient stonemill and a hexagonal well, and from which you can see the vine-covered slopes of the Oltrepò Pavese.
• Villa Veniali, a stately home that was probably built in the 17th century, surrounded by a park in which the writer Edmondo De Amicis, a guest of the owners, strolled.
• Villa Serpi: another ancient villa, now restored, with a beautiful park.
• Villa Gatti: an elegant residence with a hexagonal terrace.
• Villa Maresco: this is a very large mansion with a courtyard and a keep.

🏰 At the top of the hill is the Beccaria Castle (1472), perhaps the oldest manor house in the village of Montebello della Battaglia and today the subject of a major restoration. It is a long building of about 2,500 m², with 50 rooms and a large tower on one side.
🌹 In the garden, the legendary Duchesse de Montebello rose has flourished again, linked to a Napoleonic affair: this flower is so named in honour of the wife of Napoleon’s marshal who won the Battle of Montebello. The shape of the buds somewhat recalls the shape of the emperor’s tricorn hat.
It is considered one of the most elegant Gallic roses. It has double flowers, very fragrant, and its petals are silvery pink.

The municipality of Montebello della Battaglia includes several hamlets: Borra, Casalino, Cerreto, Fogliarina, Genestrello, Molinara, Pantaleone and Sgarbina.

In the locality of Genestrello is another noble palace: Villa Lunati Mazza, of the Marchesi Lunati, an ancient noble family from Pavia. It has a large central body and two side wings. From the beautiful inner garden, a large balcony overlooks the Po Valley.

Also in Genestrello is the Church of Santa Maria in Loretana (16th century), decorated with frescoes and a 14th-century statue of the Madonna.
On the outer wall, a cannon ball from the 1859 battle is still visible.

🍽️ For those who want to eat, taste wine and stay overnight in Montebello della Battaglia, here are a few pointers:

Agriturismo la Roveda: a historic farmstead converted into an agritourism with swimming pool and event venue. It is also an organic winery.

Cascina Pozzarello: an old manor house and its barn have been converted into a farmhouse with rooms.

Floragriturismo, where traditional dishes also leave room for vegetarian options.

Posillipo Restaurant, for those who love fish.

La Costaiola, a producer of Oltrepò Pavese wines such as Pinot Nero, Barbera and Croatina.

Montebello is a small village between plain and hill, between past and present, that holds many treasures, all waiting to be discovered.