The butterflies of Colli Verdi 🦋

The Municipality of Colli Verdi (PV)

Colli Verdi is a scattered municipality established on 1 January 2019 by the merger of Canevino, Ruino and Valverde. We are located in the south-eastern part of the Oltrepò Pavese area. It is an important destination for all lovers of butterflies to be admired along the Sentiero delle Farfalle (Butterfly Path), good wine from the area’s vineyards, and landscapes of intense colours.

• Canevino (Canavén in the Oltrepadano dialect) is located in the high hills, near the sources of the Versa and Scuropasso streams.
• Ruino (Arvén in Oltrepadano dialect) in is located on the left side of the Tidone valley, from which the main hill ridges branch off.
• Valverde (Valvérd in the Oltrepadano dialect) extends between the hill and mountain areas, straddling the valleys of the Tidone and Nizza streams.

Cover image taken from the website Oltrepò Biodiverso and QuatarobPavia

History

• Canevino is first mentioned in a document dating back to before the year 1000.
• Ruino belonged to the abbey of San Colombano di Bobbio and in 1164 was included among the fiefs assigned with imperial power to the city of Pavia. It passed to the Landi family (1269) and to the Dal Verme family (1372), who retained control until the abolition of feudalism. The municipal seat is in Pometo, a nearby town of ancient origin.
• Valverde has a much older history, more than 2,500 years, and archaeological finds attest to Golasecchian, Celtic, Ligurian and Roman settlements. An altar dedicated to the goddess Diana was found in Valverde.
  The village belonged to the Landi family (1298), then to the Malaspina family (1351), with a brief interlude from the Dal Verme family, before returning to the Malaspina until the Napoleonic era.

The fractions are:

Bozzola, Ca del Matto, Ca del Zerbo, Calghera, Canavera, Canevino, Carmine Passo, Carmine Bivio, Casa Andrini, Casa d’Agosto, Casa Porri, Casa Zanellino, Caseo, Colombara, Costa Trentini, Fontana, Mandasco, Moglio, Mombelli, Montelungo, Montù Berchielli, Pometo, Ruino, Torre degli Alberi, Valverde.

What to see in the municipality of Colli Verdi (PV)

• ⛪Canevino: the Don Antonio Grassi steps (133 steps) commemorate the miracle of the mute child who regained his speech when the relics of St Columba passed by. At the top is the parish church of Our Lady of the Assumption, internally decorated with frescoes and a Baroque altar.
  
• Ruino:
  – the parish church of St Peter Apostle (1740) has a wooden statue. ⛪
  
  – the Castle of Torre degli Alberi. The castle tower, made of stone and brick, has a corbelled corbelling at the top. 🏰
  
• ⛪In the hamlet of Montelungo, the Sanctuary whose history dates back to the time of Charlemagne is of considerable interest.
  
• 🦋Valverde: the Castle of Verde with its ruins and especially the Butterfly Garden are a major tourist attraction. This is a naturalistic area that is home to numerous species of butterflies (whose scientific name is Lepidoptera), including the extremely rare Thyme Maculinea.

Nature and trekking

• Passo del Carmine: a pass at an altitude of about 600 metres between Oltrepò Montano and the wine-growing area.
  From the pass, one can descend directly into the Tidone valley.

Parties

• In autumn, the Valverde polentata is a tradition

Typical products

• DOC wines, including bonarda, pinot noir, pinot grigio 🍇
• Miele 🍯
• Fruit (rostaiola, renetta and frascona apples 🍎🍏; local ‘Cavigiona and Giassola’ pears
• Salame di Varzi PDO
• Cheese and yoghurt, also made from goat’s milk 🐐
• Ragò (pork ribs with cabbage) 🥬
• Truffles
• Lavender products such as honey and liqueurs

Lavender

🪻During flowering, the slopes of the Colli Verdi municipality are tinged with purplethanks to the beautiful lavender flowers.
The lavender fields are an incredible spectacle that fills the entire area with colour and fragrance.

Colli Verdi is an authentic corner of Oltrepò Pavese, perfect for those seeking an experience between nature and food and wine.
Whether exploring its small mediaeval villages, hiking trails or savouring its typical products, it always gives emotions.