In the province of Pavia, south of the river Po (the longest waterway in Italy), lies the Oltrepò Pavese - an area literally "wedged" between Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and Piedmont (just a few kilometres from the border with Liguria). Here, in a territory located in the northern Apennines, you can find a countryside with a varied morphology, flat in the north and hilly or mountainous in the south.

Oltrepò Pavese is the ideal destination for all those who wish to enjoy a trip out of town, joining the pleasures of the table with a good dose of relaxation. It is a land rich in historical and environmental attractions, ideal for sustainable tourism, home to excellent food such as Varzi salami and to the fine wine produced in the area. Oltrepò Pavese is also a natural paradise where you can't miss the oldest wellness resorts, some dating back to Roman times: the thermal baths. The different thermal waters are used for curative as well as relaxing purposes.

CAN'T MISS

- Dal Verme Castle in Zavattarello: inside the castle are suggestive subterranean prisons dug into the rock, which can be visited with a guide. A labyrinthine fortress made of secret passages, which will transport you into the Middle Ages. There is also a wide range of educational activities for children.

- A day in Salice Terme, in addition to the Adventure Park (a well-equipped natural park where you can experience the thrill of jumping from tree to tree with the special equipment provided on site), it also offers the beneficial waters of the Spa, where you can rest and enjoy an aperitif by the pool.

ANECDOTES AND CURIOSITIES

Fortunago - considered one of the most beautiful in Italy - is a small village from another time, perched on the Oltrepò Pavese hills. Several scenes from the film "The Human Capital" (2013) by the Italian director Paolo Virzì were shot here.