Discover Borgarello: Visconti Heritage and Cycle Paths along the Naviglio Pavese

Borgarello combines sacred architecture, traces of the Visconti era and routes along the Naviglio Pavese. The original town centre was formed by the historic Cascina La Colombina, around which the old village developed over time. Borgarello also has its own network of cycle paths along the Alzaia cycle route beside the Naviglio Pavese. This makes it a place where cultural history and active exploration come together.

Church and historic town centre

The Chiesa di San Martino Vescovo has a Baroque layout with a single nave, a barrel vault, interconnected shallow side chapels, an enclosed transept and a choir. Its existence is documented by a deed dated 23 May 1395. The church therefore represents a long local tradition, while Cascina La Colombina illustrates the development of the village from its original core. During the Visconti era, Cascina Colombina also served as an important control post for the park.

Visconti heritage in the landscape and buildings

During the Visconti era, Borgarello was incorporated into the Parco Nuovo, a hunting ground between Castello di Pavia and Certosa di Pavia. The dividing wall between the Parco Vecchio and the Parco Nuovo ran from Cantone delle Tre Miglia to Due Porte. The historic landscape also included small rural settlement buildings: Cascina Repentita was one of the buildings scattered throughout the historic Visconti park. Remains of the ancient Parco Visconteo can still be seen at Cascina Repentita.

Villa Mezzabarba and the history of Cascina Repentita

Villa Mezzabarba is an 18th-century building with an adjoining park. The feudal lord Giovan Battista Mezzabarba commissioned the architect Veneroni to build it. In 2017, the municipality acquired the villa, subsequently moved its offices there and also opened it for cultural initiatives such as exhibitions, conferences and concerts. A local legend associates Cascina Repentita with the origin of Zuppa alla Pavese. Its recorded structural condition also includes the fact that part of its roof had collapsed.

Cycle paths and historic routes

The Alzaia cycle route along the Naviglio Pavese runs for 30 km from Milan to Certosa di Pavia, with a further 6 km to the historic centre of Pavia. In addition, the present-day rural path Sentiero campestre dei Mezzani apparently follows a medieval route that began north of Borgarello and reached Villanova as its first stop. Information points, as well as rest areas and refreshment facilities for cyclists, hikers, runners and pilgrims, were planned to enhance tourist routes in rural areas. Borgarello is therefore particularly appealing to visitors who want to combine historic sites, regional stories and waterside routes in a single trip.

More destinations

More destinations: Santa Giuletta, Cornale, Calvignano, Tromello, Borgo Priolo, Vidigulfo, Gropello Cairoli, Mortara.

To the main travel overview: Pavia.