The taste of a day in the hills Oltrepò: Trip to Borgo Priolo, Italy
Welcome to the spring of walking on green grass, breathing in the scent of the first flowers that bloom in the hills, watch the horizon where the green vegetation blends with the blue of the mountain ranges that are seen in the distance, and admire the contrast between the light pink of almond blossoms and blue sky. Emotions that we hardly expect to be able to prove a little more than half an hour's drive from Milan. Instead it is precisely what we have cheered on the Sunday we decided to go to Borgo Priolo, in the province of Pavia, a short distance from Casteggio.
We Oltrepò Pavese, in the valley of the River Cup, and although the constitution of the municipality of Borgo Priolo is relatively recent, the news that testify to the existence of this town, dating back a thousand years. In fact, both the past and the present of Borgo Priolo, are made from the history of its fractions. The town was founded in 1928, the union of two ancient towns, Staghiglione and Torre del Monte, in the present paper, respectively from 950 and 1111. Both fractions, along with nineteen others who today make up the territory of Borgo Priolo, passed through many historical events, which saw as protagonists like Beccaria and the Malaspina family, in addition to the series of events that connect the fate of these lands, even to those of Kingdom of Sardinia from 1743 under the Treaty of Worms, and later, from 1801, to those of Napoleonic France in which the territory was annexed Staghiglione until 1814.
During our walk we visit the old town of Borgo Priolo, which develops around the Town Hall Square and the lovely Parish Church. Next to the Town Hall is also a wall with a large bas-relief painting that depicts scenes of peasant life. Making the rounds of the different fractions Stefanago reach the Castle, built between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries. Although the castle is privately owned, in the month of April, thanks to the event "Live the Castle", you can also visit it by climbing the tower from which the eye can wander up to the peaks of the Apennines Penice and Brallo, and you can see several castles and villages of the valley. Take the opportunity to visit the beautiful fifteenth-century church that stands opposite the castle. Taking up the road, in the ancient village of Torre del Monte we visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady Parish pretty Guard, built in 1938. The villages and hamlets of these beautiful valleys join in some festive occasion that occurs during the year, as the Village Fair on August 15th of 1904.
Our tour continues to the hamlet Schizzola, where we expect an evening of the best flavors of the region. We get in the Location Schizzola High meadows along that stretch between the forests inhabited by squirrels, hares and pheasants, and after a few minutes we reach the Quaglini Trattoria, located in a wonderful location, an oasis of peace. "Our company was founded in 1998 in an old school that we have restored us. Since 2006 we have instead moved to this location, where we offer the typical local dishes, including many theme nights. In addition to the restaurant for those who arrived after a trip outside, we can also find the Brasserie of cured meats and cheeses paired with selected wines, as well as the tasty grilled meat, "he tells the owner, Mr. Marco manages the restaurant with his wife and Mrs. Marysia Michela, Michela's mother. In fact, we discover the existence of the exquisite pleasure, an outdoor space, where you can enjoy all this in an informal environment: during the summer must be a real pleasure. This time we sit in, in the elegant surroundings of the Restaurant, and we begin to taste of the meats of the territory as the cup of Piacenza, as well as the fat veined with acacia honey and almonds and strips of chicken curry. After we take these tasty appetizers with a nice soft cheese risotto with porcini mushrooms and black truffle ravioli as well as the traditional beef stew and misdeeds herb sauce with mushrooms. We follow them from the first cut of Scottona green pepper, reduce the cup in the oven with the potatoes and Bonarda, and fillet of suckling pig with plum voul-au-vent to his jam.
Our day ends with great sweetness of traditional desserts such as homemade tart with fresh fruit and Brasada of Staghiglione, the donuts in the oven with two cooking so that they remain crisp for a long time.
Fragrant as our memories, pleasant, Borgo Priolo, where our desire for nature and certainly delights us back soon.
Frances Bertha
FOR INFORMATION:
www.comune.borgopriolo.pv.it
www.trattoriaquaglini.it
Trattoria Quaglini
Schizzola High Loc Borgo Priolo (PV)
0383/892840