Santa Maria della Versa: Vineyards, Church and Cycling Routes

Wine Landscape on the Valley Floor

Santa Maria della Versa lies on the valley floor and is surrounded by hills planted with Pinot vines. This landscape provides the setting for a place where wine, religious heritage and cycling routes exist in close proximity. The vineyards are not only part of the landscape, but also form part of the route of the Giro di Santa Maria della Versa.

Santa Maria della Versa played a key role at both local and national level in the production of quality wines and quality sparkling wines. Wine is therefore not merely a matter of taste, but a defining part of the area's history and local character.

Wine and Founding History

A specific historical anchor is the Cantina Sociale. It was founded on 21 May 1905 by Cesare Gustavo Faravelli and twenty-one other farmers. Three decades lie between its foundation and the later marketing of La Versa Brut.

La Versa Brut is part of the history of sparkling wine. The product was marketed in 1935 as Italy's first vintage sparkling wine. La Versa Brut is therefore part of the historical development of sparkling wine in Santa Maria della Versa.

Parish Church and Historical Traces

Construction of the present-day parish church of Santa Maria della Versa was decided in 1639 after the former oratory had become too small for the growing number of worshippers. The church houses an image of the Madonna Annunziata, which has been venerated by local residents since the 14th century. The parish church is a Marian shrine and thus offers a religiously oriented way to experience the town. Veneration of the image dates back further than the decision to build the present church.

The Torre Polistina is a medieval tower in Località Soriasco.

Cycling Routes with Different Profiles

For cyclists, the Giro dei Vigneti starts in Santa Maria della Versa. The route takes two and a half hours, is classified as moderate to challenging, and runs half on paved roads and half on unpaved paths. The surface is therefore just as important a planning factor as its moderate-to-challenging classification. Anyone planning this circuit should take the change between asphalt and unpaved paths into account when choosing equipment.

The Giro di Santa Maria della Versa runs mostly through vineyards and is predominantly characterised by its scenic and natural surroundings. On this route, the vineyards make up most of the course area.

The Santa Maria della Versa–Monte Penice route also starts in Santa Maria della Versa. It takes about five hours and is classified as moderate to challenging. Its duration is considerably longer than that of the Giro dei Vigneti, while both routes are classified as moderate to challenging. The longer route consequently occupies a larger uninterrupted block of time.

Discover More Places

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For the overview of the wider travel region: Pavia.