Santa Margherita di Staffora, between history and traditions

A village suspended in time

Nestled in the picturesque hills of the Oltrepò Pavese, Santa Margherita di Staffora stands on the right bank of the Staffora stream and dominates the upper valley from a natural terrace. The village develops around the parish church, built on the ruins of an ancient castle, offering breathtaking views over the entire valley.

A past rich in historical passages

🏛️Le origins of Santa Margherita di Staffora date back to Roman times, as evidenced by the archaeological finds from the Roman kiln at Massinigo and the finds discovered at Casanova Staffora.
In the Middle Ages, the village was a possession of theAbbey of San Colombano di Bobbio, before passing to the Malaspina family in 1164, under the fief of Oramala, at the behest of Frederick Barbarossa.

In 1221, the village passed to the noble branch of the Spino Fiorito. In 1275, it became part of the Marquisate of Varzi.
The Malaspina lords renounced their feudal jurisdiction in 1604, although they retained certain rights such as the collection of duties and the management of mills.

Subsequently, the village came under the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1743, was annexed to France from 1801 to 1814 and finally became part of the province of Pavia in 1859.

Images taken from the website of Comunità Montana Oltrepò Pavese

A village to explore

Anyone walking through the cobbled lanes and stone houses of Santa Margherita di Staffora is enraptured by its medieval atmosphere .
The village, situated on a small promontory, is surrounded by large expanses of woodland and views of the Staffora valley.

The church of Santa Margherita is located on the highest point. With its bell tower with clock, it is visible even at night, lending a magical charm to the entire landscape.

Events and traditions

The municipality of Santa Margherita di Staffora with its hamlets is the heart of numerous festivals and popular traditions.
Among the most important celebrations in the area are:

• Feast of Easter Monday in the hamlet of Ceregate
• Patronal Feast of St Michael Archangel, second Sunday in May
• Anniversary of the Apparitions, shrine of the Madonna di Bocca, Casanova Staffora, 2 August
• Carnevale Bianco di Cegni, takes place twice a year: in winter (Shrove Saturday) and in summer (16 August).
• CignoloWinery Festival, 17 August
• Feast on the Hague, in Negruzzo, last Saturday in August
• Feast of the patron saint Maria Bambina in Ceregate on the first Sunday in September

A journey through culture and flavours

Small museums … but interesting

• Ecomuseo dell’Appennino Lombardo “Il Grano in Erba”, Centro Polifunzionale Fraz.ne Casanova Destra n. 1 – Santa Margherita di Staffora which includes four municipalities: Santa Margherita di Staffora, Menconico, Brallo di Pregola and Romagnese
• Peasant Museum, Pellegro Mill. This is a water mill with an iron wheel, but originally the wheel was made of wood
• Charcuterie Museum, hamlet Casanova Destra 8

The gastronomic tradition of Santa Margherita di Staffora is equally rich and genuine.

Typical products:

• Formaggette of Casale Staffora
• Braised meat ravioli
• Salame di Varzi PDO
• Almond Cake
• Artisan bread, mountain potatoes, mushrooms and truffles

Some local producers:

• Azienda agricola l’Aietta di Fossati Daniele, hamlet of Casale Staffora, SP48, tel. 339 5817228
• Salumeria Angelo Dedomenici, hamlet of Casanova di Destra, tel. 0383 551341

Routes between nature and mystery

Santa Margherita di Staffora and the surrounding areas are not only history and tradition, but also nature, adventure and real surprises.

• Grotta dei Briganti: near the small village of Fego, legend has it that it was a refuge for bandits after robberies
• Massinigo Roman kiln: dating back to the 3rd century B.C., it is the only one in Oltrepò Pavese and one of the best preserved in all of Lombardy
• Negruzzo: has a record, being the highest village in the province of Pavia, at 1124 metres, characterised by stone houses, ciappe roofs and cobbled streets
• Pian dell’Armà: a location with accommodation facilities and which lends itself to excursions 🛎️
• Pian del Poggio: is a ski destination with a chairlift to Mt Chiappo (1700 m). ⛰️
• Ceregate: a ghost town abandoned since 1986, which repopulates twice a year, on Easter Monday and for the feast of Maria Bambina. It would lend itself well to becoming a film set 🎬.

Santa Margherita di Staffora is a hidden jewel of the Oltrepò Pavese, where history and traditions intertwine to offer an experience to remember. Amidst nature with breathtaking landscapes, ancient legends, museums, folk events and genuine flavours, this village brings tourists to experience the authentic soul of the Ligurian-Lombard Apennines.