Varzi

Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia

Alessandro VecchiVarzi panorama CC BY-SA 3.0
Casalmaggiore ProvinciaVarzi - Chiesa dei Cappuccini - facciata CC BY-SA 3.0
FrancescoVarzi - Chiesa dei Rossi CC BY 2.0
Davide PapaliniVarzi-casa Mangini CC BY-SA 3.0
Davide PapaliniVarzi-centro storico2 CC BY-SA 3.0
Davide PapaliniVarzi-centro storico4 CC BY-SA 3.0
Davide PapaliniVarzi-chiesa di san germano CC BY-SA 3.0
Davide PapaliniVarzi-torre di porta soprana1 CC BY-SA 3.0
Davide PapaliniVarzi-torre di porta sottana3 CC BY-SA 3.0

Salt-road merchants made Varzi rich: their caravans climbed the Staffora valley towards the Ligurian coast, and the Malaspina, who moved here in 1275, built a castle and walls to collect the tolls. The old quarter runs beside the stream under arcades on stout stone pillars, between two gates topped by towers. Today the town is best known for its salame.

Highlights

Salame di Varzi, the town's renowned cured sausage (IT)
Chiesa dei Rossi and Chiesa dei Bianchi, named after confraternity cape colours
The Romanesque Chiesa dei Cappuccini, with a late 15th-century fresco
A raised arcaded walk along the top of the old walls
The Malaspina castle tower, still rising over the town

Text adapted from Wikipedia (Varzi (IT), Varzi (EN)), Wikivoyage (Varzi). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Population: 3,008

Things to see

Events through the year

Carnevale varzese Seasonal · Carnival (February or March)Traditional parade of masked floats
Fiera di San Giorgio Religious · Weekend after 23 AprilPatron feast with local craft and trade stalls
Varzi in Fiera Fairs and markets · 1 MayFair with music, local produce and animals
Città del salame Food and wine · JuneShows, tastings and prizes for craft salami
Antiques market Fairs and markets · Every Sunday in September
Chestnut sagra Food and wine · OctoberRoast chestnuts and folk music at Pietragavina, in the municipality
Christmas market Seasonal · Third Sunday of DecemberCraft stalls, nativity scene and zampogna pipers in the old town

Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.

Adapted from Wikivoyage (Varzi). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Local food & wine

GperdoniSalame di Varzi CC BY-SA 4.0
Salame di Varzi (IT)Cured meatSalted and aged salami with DOP protection
Varzi almond cakeSweet
ChestnutsLocal produceRoasted chestnuts at the October chestnut fair in Pietragavina

Adapted from Wikipedia (Varzi), Wikivoyage (Varzi). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to sleep

6 places to stay within 3 km

B&Bs and guest houses 4
Hotels 2

Thermal baths nearby

Thermal spa: Terme di Rivanazzano · ~29 min by car

Nearby member villages

Zavattarello · 7.7 km
Fortunago · 11 km
Bobbio · 16 km
Garbagna · 16 km
Golferenzo · 18 km