Rivanazzano: Churches, Castle and Greenway

In Rivanazzano, ecclesiastical and civic architectural history, the origins of the thermal baths and a Greenway offer a range of different themes. If you are looking for a hotel in Rivanazzano, this variety can help you choose a destination that suits your interests: it ranges from historic buildings to a paved route for cycling and walking. The periods also differ considerably—from Castello di Nazzano around the year 1000 to a parish church dating back to the 17th century.

Churches, Tower and Civic Architecture

San Germano has two distinct historical dates: the parish church is documented as a pleban church from the 13th century, while its origins date to the 17th century. The Oratorio della Santissima Trinità offers a different architectural accent. It is a Neoclassical building, first documented at the end of the 16th century. The two churches therefore represent different aspects of local history, and their dates do not refer to the same thing.

Rivanazzano’s pentagonal tower stands in Piazza Cornaggia and dates from the 14th or 15th century. The Palazzo Comunale is designed in the Gothic style and has pointed-arch arcades and a clock tower. These features offer a concrete glimpse of the architectural forms of public buildings: at the Palazzo, the pointed arches and clock tower stand out, while the tower is distinguished above all by its five-sided ground plan.

The Teatro Comunale adds to this picture. In the second half of the 19th century, the Società Operaia e Contadina di Mutuo Soccorso built it as a multipurpose hall. After a seven-year restoration, it was reopened to the residents of Rivanazzano in 2008. Its history thus links its original function as a multipurpose space with a later period of restoration.

Castello di Nazzano and the View from the Hill

Castello di Nazzano was built by the Malaspina around the year 1000. Around 1360, Gian Galeazzo Visconti had the castle reinforced because of its strategic location. The two dates mark different stages in the building’s history: its construction by the Malaspina and its later reinforcement under Visconti. The history of the complex can thus be traced through its building phases, while keeping in mind that the date of its early construction is approximate.

The setting also offers a view: from the hill on which the Castello stands, on clear and windy days you can see from the Maritime Alps to Monte Rosa. The weather conditions are key to the far-reaching view described. The castle and the view offer two different points of interest at the same place—the history of the complex and the expansive landscape.

Thermal Bath History, Greenway and Landscape

The Terme di Rivanazzano were established in 1913 following the discovery of natural springs in the San Francesco area. Their origins add another chapter to the town’s architectural and ecclesiastical history. The year and the reference to San Francesco indicate when and where the thermal baths originated.

The Voghera–Varzi Greenway offers a different perspective on the surrounding area. It is 33 kilometres long, paved and laid out as a dedicated route for cycling and walking, with a gentle gradient. The stretch from the municipality of Retorbido to the municipality of Rivanazzano Terme passes through cultivated farmland. The plains are covered with grain fields, while vineyards line the slopes; wine has been grown there for more than 2,000 years. Along this stretch, the landscape shifts between flatter agricultural land and slopes used for viticulture.

The Greenway is suitable for peaceful family walks, runs and marathon training, away from cars and busy roads. It follows a dedicated, safe route. This makes this aspect of Rivanazzano different from its historic buildings: here, the focus is on the separate route, its paved surface and the surrounding agricultural landscape.

Parco Brugnatelli

Parco Brugnatelli extends behind the town hall along the Staffora River to nearby Salice. The park, river and Greenway each offer a different way to experience the landscape around Rivanazzano: the park is defined by its location on the Staffora, while the Greenway is notable for its route and the fields and vineyards along its stretch. Together with the churches, tower, Palazzo and Castello, these options offer various points of interest to help you decide which aspects of the destination you would like to explore further.

Discover more destinations: San Giorgio di Lomellina, Tromello, Santa Maria Della Versa, Torre Beretti, Carmine, Villanterio, Godiasco, Settimo

See the overview of the wider destination: Pavia.