The Staffora Torrent is one of the main waterways of the Oltrepò Pavese, an area rich in history and nature. Its course, which leads it to join the Po, is dotted with historic villages, renowned spas and a biodiversity that testifies to the natural balance of the region.
The Torrente Staffora is one of the most iconic watercourses of the Oltrepò Pavese, a corner of Lombardy that seems suspended in time, where unspoilt nature and evocative landscapes draw a deep green valley. The stream has its source at almost 1,500 metres on Monte Chiappo, in the municipality of Santa Margherita Staffora, among the peaks of the Pavese Apennines. Despite its proximity to the Ligurian Sea, the Staffora flows decisively towards the Po Valley, crossing an area with unique geographical and natural characteristics.
The Staffora valley, with its steep slopes covered with oak and beech forests, is a paradise for nature lovers. Here, the lush and wild vegetation tells of a land that has managed to keep its essence intact.
The Staffora route is inextricably linked to the history of the Oltrepò. In ancient times, the valley was an important trade route between Milan and Genoa, known as the Via del Sale (Salt Road). This road, along which essential goods such as salt were transported, passed through ancient villages such as Varzi and enabled the inhabitants of northern Italy to connect with the sea. Today, the Via del Sale is still one of the main arteries of the region, keeping alive the link between past and present, combining historical memory and natural beauty.
Crossing the valley, the Staffora crosses two significant tributaries, the Nizza and the Ardivestra, whose names give rise to two further fascinating valleys in the Oltrepò Pavese. The torrent, after having travelled kilometres of fertile land, ends its course by flowing into the majestic Po River, the heart of the Po Valley.
Not only nature and history: along the course of the Staffora you will find some of the most interesting cultural and thermal places in the Oltrepò Pavese. These include Salice Terme and Rivanazzano Terme, places renowned for their curative waters. Salice Terme, already known in Roman times for the therapeutic properties of its springs, is today a destination for relaxation and wellness, immersed in a natural setting of rare beauty. Rivanazzano, with its sulphurous and bromine and iodine-salt thermal baths, completes the offer of these places where physical wellbeing goes hand in hand with serenity of the soul.
There is no shortage of charming villages either, including Varzi, one of the oldest and best-preserved in the Oltrepò Pavese, with its medieval historic centre overlooking the stream. Godiasco Salice Terme and Ponte Nizza are also places worth a visit, offering picturesque views and a warm welcome to visitors.
The Staffora Valley thus presents itself as an oasis of peace and beauty, where man has learnt to live in harmony with nature. Here, visitors can immerse themselves in a dimension far removed from the hustle and bustle of the cities, even though they are only a few kilometres from large centres such as Milan and Genoa. It is a place where time seems to pass more slowly, where one can enjoy a walk through millenary forests, explore villages rich in history and savour the pleasures of the thermal baths.
All in all, the Torrente Staffora and its valley represent a hidden treasure of the Oltrepò Pavese, an area to be discovered by those seeking an authentic experience of nature, culture and tradition.
