San Giorgio di Lomellina
Discover the Province of Pavia
The province of Pavia is a beautiful province in Lombardy, located in the heart of the Po Valley, and was one of the most important provinces in the region during the Roman era. Today it has over 530,000 inhabitants and is made up of three different geographical areas: Pavese, Lomellina, and Oltrepò Pavese. In the following text, we present each area in detail, as well as its rivers and waterways.
Physical Geography
The province of Pavia is crossed by the Ticino and Po rivers, which meet 4 km south of the capital. These two rivers divide the province into three different zones. The Pavese area is located in the northeast part of the province, north of the Po and east of the Ticino. It takes its name from the capital city of Pavia, which is the most important municipality in the region. Lomellina, located in the northwest part of the province, is the territory between the Ticino (to the east) and the Po (to the west), with the most important municipality of Vigevano. Oltrepò Pavese, located at the foot of the Apennines, is the territory south of the Po, with the most important municipality of Voghera. The territory of Siccomario, at the confluence of the two rivers, is considered part of Pavese for historical reasons.
Another important watercourse in the province is the southern Olona. It originates in the countryside around Bornasco and flows into the Po at San Zenone al Po. The province of Pavia is also crossed by the Lambro river and its southern tributary, the Lambro meridionale, which flows along the border between the provinces of Pavia and Lodi. The Staffora, the major stream in Oltrepò Pavese, flows into the Po after a 58 km journey.
The Pavese Area
Pavese is the area of the province of Pavia north of the Po and east of the Ticino. It is the smallest area in the province, but the most important municipality, Pavia, is also the capital and the largest municipality in the region. Other important municipalities in this area include San Martino Siccomario, Mezzanino, and Carbonara al Ticino.
Lomellina
Lomellina is a very large area of the province of Pavia, located northwest of the Ticino River. It is very flat and crossed by numerous waterways, including the southern Olona. The most important municipality in this area is Vigevano, famous for its beautiful square, Piazza Ducale. Other important municipalities of Lomellina are Mortara, Gambolò, and Garlasco.
Oltrepò Pavese
Oltrepò Pavese is a mountainous area of the province of Pavia, at the foot of the Apennines. It is the largest area in the province and is famous for its vineyards and gastronomic festivals. The most important municipality in this area is Voghera, which is located in the valley of the Staffora stream. Other important municipalities of Oltrepò are Varzi, Broni, and Stradella.
Conclusion
The province of Pavia is a beautiful area of Lombardy, with three different geographical areas to discover. The Pavese area, Lomellina, and Oltrepò Pavese offer natural beauty, historical monuments, and unique gastronomic traditions. Each area has its rivers and waterways, which run through countryside, hills, and mountains. Visit the province of Pavia and discover all its beauty!
