Casei Gerola: Nature and Lombard Church Art

Casei Gerola combines the natural setting of Parco Le Folaghe with sacred and historical evidence of Lombard culture. This creates a destination where you can discover nature observation, architecture and art history in their various facets.

Natural Setting and Orientation in Parco Le Folaghe

Parco Le Folaghe is a nature park of supra-municipal interest and a natural oasis in the municipality of Casei Gerola. It consists of disused clay pits. The deepest pits were filled by groundwater to form lakes where numerous waterbird species breed. Those exploring this landscape should use the designated paths and consult the maps for orientation in the park.

From Milan or Genoa, the route to Parco Le Folaghe follows the A7 to the Casei Gerola exit. From there, continue via the Voghera–Silvano Pietra turnoff and the SP 12. This specific sequence of roads makes planning easier when the nature park is the focus of your visit.

Churches with Lombard Architectural and Art History

The present-day Chiesa di San Guglielmo was completed in 1426 after the site of the former church had been exchanged to enlarge the castle. The building is designed in the Lombard Gothic style with Proto-Renaissance elements. Two terracotta windows with pointed arches are set into the gabled façade.

The Chiesa di San Sebastiano houses a high-quality altarpiece from the 18th century. It depicts Saint Sebastian and Saint Roch and was created by the Pavia painter Bernardo Ciceri. During religious celebrations, access is directly from the church forecourt.

The Collegiata di San Giovanni Battista was built towards the end of the 14th century by Franciscans of the Observance of Saint Bernardino of Siena. It is designed in a pure Lombard Gothic style. The Cappella Bottigella contains a fresco cycle by the Maestro di Casei; Vittorio Sgarbi attributes the Maestro di Casei to Foppa.

Sanctuaries and Religious Traditions

The Cappella di San Fortunato was built between 1768 and 1775. It preserves the relics of Casei Gerola’s patron saint, San Fortunato. As early as 1765, the relics came to Casei from Santa Maria in Via Lata as a gift from the Holy See.

The construction of the new Madonna delle Grazie di Sant’Agostino sanctuary was approved in 1639 by Bishop Mons. Aresi and had already been completed by 1641. The main altar features a historic fresco of the Mater Divinae Gratiae, which is described as miraculous. Schiaffinati, who came from Casei, commissioned it in 1612. At the site where the sanctuary now stands, the relics of Saint Augustine stopped for one night. During religious celebrations, access to the sanctuary is directly from the church forecourt.

Historical Traces in the Palazzotto del Carmagnola

The Palazzotto del Carmagnola was once the seat of the Broletto. Count Francesco Bussone, known as Il Carmagnola and lord of Casei Gerola, lived there. The building complements the churches and the sanctuary with a secular historical trace within the local history.

More Destinations

Tromello, Salice Terme, Ceranova, Borgo Priolo, Santa Margherita, Vidigulfo, Montalto Pavese and Montù Beccaria

To the higher-level travel overview: Pavia.