Rovescala: Wine, History and Hillside Landscapes in Oltrepò Pavese

Rovescala is situated in a hilly setting in the small valley of the Bardonezza stream. The town combines this landscape with regional wine culture and historically significant cultural sites.

Hillside Setting and Views

Castello di Luzzano stands at an elevation of 270 metres on the ridge separating the provinces of Piacenza and Pavia in Oltrepò Pavese. At the foot of the first hills, its position offers broad views over the valleys below and the Po Valley. The valley and ridge thus form the geographical framework that makes it particularly easy to appreciate the landscape around Rovescala.

Church and Archaeological Traces

The Parrocchiale della Natività di Maria Vergine is an 18th-century single-nave church with three chapels on each side. Exterior access stairways lead to it. Castello di Luzzano's old winery also houses an archaeological museum with finds from excavations carried out in 1995 and 1996.

Another historic site is located in the Luzzano district: in 1961, Lombard graves belonging to four men who lived in the 7th century were discovered there. They had been buried with scramasaxes, swords, shields and spearheads. Alongside its buildings, these finds give the area a clearly recognisable archaeological dimension.

Wine and Regional Cuisine

Primavera dei vini, also known as Festa del Bonarda, is celebrated in Rovescala every Sunday in March from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. During this event, the region's wine cellars open their doors to visitors who want to discover the different expressions of this emblematic wine. The connection between wine and regional cuisine is also evident in the former 18th-century Dogana: it houses an inn and a restaurant serving regional specialities.

At DiVinAgosto 2025, traditional regional dishes such as “nos tond”, roast beef with Bonarda DOC, carne salada with soncino and grilled Tomino were offered in Rovescala alongside selected wines from Oltrepò. DiVinAgosto celebrated the enogastronomic culture of Oltrepò Pavese in Rovescala from 24 August to 31 August 2025. The date at the end of August fell during the height of summer in 2025.

Events and Getting There

On 23 August 2026, Rovescala hosted the cycling race Colli Rovescalesi, regarded as a traditional event. Rovescala can be reached by car from the main centres of Oltrepò Pavese as well as from nearby towns in the Piacenza area, such as Borgonovo Valtidone and Castel San Giovanni. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore consider your interests in wine, historic sites and event dates as separate planning criteria.

More Destinations for Your Trip to Italy

You can discover more destinations for planning your trip here: Tromello, Rosasco, Rocca De' Giorgi, Montù Beccaria, Villanterio, Certosa Di Pavia, Romagnese, Cigognola.

To the higher-level travel overview: Pavia.