Torricella Verzate, land of templars, sanctuaries and excellent wines

Nestling at the foot of the foothills of the Oltrepò Pavese area, Torricella Verzate is a small village that preserves a thousand-year history full of spirituality and a high quality wine vocation. An ideal place for those in search of silence, beauty and historical charm off the beaten track.

Cover image taken from the FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano website

Between Saracen tower and limestone landscapes

Situated in the valley of the Verzate stream, the main town – Torricella – stands on a small limestone hill in the middle of the valley, while the hamlet of Verzate extends into the plain. The place name may derive from Turris Is ella: ‘isella’ stands for small island, due to the shape of the hillock on which the village stands, which looks like a small island in the middle of the valley.
It appears with the name Turricella from the 13th century.

A noble past

Its history includes Emperor Otto I of Saxony, the Templars, the Belcredi family, the Arcimboldi family and the Mezzabarba nobles.

The Shrine of the Passion: stone, faith and mystery

At the highest point of the town stands the Santuario della Passione, one of the oldest places of worship in the Oltrepò Pavese area, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Built ‘supra firmam petram’, i.e. without foundations directly on the rock, it is home to a Holy Staircase inspired by that of San Giovanni in Laterano.
Climbing the 28 steps on one’s knees was guaranteed 7 years of indulgence, according to Pope Pius IX in 1877.

Legend has it that the plinth rests on holy earth, brought directly from Palestine by the Templars, who are also said to have founded a primitive chapel and the Holy Staircase.

The Baroque interior houses a Lingiardi organ, produced by the family of the same name that also made organs for the Cathedral of Cannes and the Carmine Church in Pavia.
The sanctuary is rich in stucco decorations and houses an 18th-century ivory and mother-of-pearl crucifix.
Completing the sacred itinerary are the 14 chapels of the Way of the Cross from 1781, painted in a U-shape. With the hills in the background, the scenery immerses us in a truly mystical atmosphere.
They contain a total of 52 life-size statues in plaster and polychrome ceramics, by Pietro Ferroni of Arosio.
Next to them stand the seven chapels of the Sorrows of the Virgin, the Via Matris, which starts at the Saracen Tower and reaches the valley below.

The Saracen Templar Tower

The 14th-15th century Saracen Tower dominates the village. It is made of brick and rests on a stone base; it still has the recess for the drawbridge and welcomes visitors at the entrance to the nearby sanctuary. Its construction is attributed to the Templars.

The Templars and the Via Romea

In the Middle Ages, Torricella was a stop along the Via Romea, the route taken by pilgrims on their way to Rome.
In the hamlet of Castelletto stood the Templar commandery of Santa Maria del Verzario, with a mill, oratory and farmsteads.
Unfortunately, only a building with medieval masonry remains of this complex, visible along the Verzate stream.

TORRICELLA VERZATE – Journey through the Oltrepò Pavese

TORRICELLA VERZATE – Journey through the Oltrepò Pavese | Tourism Environment Culture

Excellence to savour: wine and baked goods

Torricella Verzate is a land of wines. It is home to theAzienda Agricola Monsupello, one of the most highly regarded in Italy for its sparkling wines: countless awards won in wine competitions.
The village also stands out for its production of sweet bread, rusks, biscuits, torta mattonella and other baked goods made from ancient grains.

Patronal feast day: 3 May – Feast of the Holy Cross
How to get there: easily reached from Casteggio (via Emilia and via Roma)
Recommended routes: panoramic path from via Cignoli to the tower and sanctuary and Castelletto path

Torricella Verzate also accommodates tourists in campers, as it has an equipped area.

Where to eat

• Restaurant Pizzeria Zodiaco
• HamburgerLibra 15 – hamburger and gineria
• Monsupello Eredi – Fine wine cellar
• Gelateria Vittoria – Patisserie, Ice Cream and Yoghurt Shop