Fortunago: Village History, Nature and Trails

If you are looking for a hotel in Fortunago, you can think of the village as a destination with a historic town center, opportunities to observe nature and marked ridge trails. Fortunago is laid out in a medieval style on the steep slope of a hill. The church and town hall are located above. Whether you are particularly interested in the village’s history, the views or the trails through the countryside, the different sides of the town can be distinguished by its specific sights and routes.

Historic Town Center and Castle Ruins

There is no through traffic in the historic village. The paths are paved with stone and complemented by footpaths that invite you to take your time. In the upper part of Fortunago, the remains of the castle and its enclosing walls have been preserved. The scenic Sentiero della Rocca runs along the outside of the walls, between the medieval houses. The route passes the remains of the fortifications and also reveals the close connection between the historic layout and the village as it is today. The Oratorio di Sant’Antonio was built around the middle of the 17th century, adding another historical reference point to the village’s architecture.

Nature Observation and Trails

In Parco di Fortunago, observation hides make it possible to watch wildlife, go birdwatching and take photographs. Possible sightings include sparrowhawks, common buzzards, scops owls, little owls, tawny owls and eagle owls, as well as fallow deer, roe deer, dormice, hares and foxes. Sightings are not guaranteed. A nature trail can be started in Fortunago and leads to Monte Gagliolo; it offers panoramic views of the Val Ardivestra below. This provides a range of ways to enjoy nature: observing wildlife from the hides, taking in the views along the park trail and looking for plants and animals on the ridge trails.

The four marked ridge trails lead, on easy walks, to farms that offer guided tours about traditional processing methods. The routes described differ in length, approximate time required and direction. Percorso di Crinale 2 heads toward S. Eusebio and Molino della Signora, is 4 km long and takes about 50 minutes. The 2.4 km Percorso di Crinale 3 runs toward Costa Cavalieri and Galeazzi; it is listed as taking about 30 minutes. It is also designed for observing birds of prey and looking for wild orchids and numerous butterfly species. Percorso di Crinale 4 heads toward Stefanago, is 1.8 km long and takes about 25 minutes. This trail offers expansive views of the Coppa and Schizzola valleys.

Tours and Village Life

Pro Loco di Fortunago organizes tours of the historic village. At events organized by the Pro Loco, food stalls and sales stands in the village squares offer local wines, cured meats, cheeses, preserves, honey, lavender, sweets and DOC-certified meat. These offerings are tied to events and should not be considered available every day. For a break or other leisure activities, Fortunago’s Centro Sportivo has a picnic area and facilities for small-sided football, table tennis and bocce. There is also a bar.

Discover more destinations: San Paolo, Torre Beretti, Montescano, Rocca De' Giorgi, Mortara, Carbonara al Ticino, Castello D'agogna, Pieve Porto Morone.

For the main travel overview: Pavia.