THE CASTLE
Where history meets the present
The stones of the Castle of Varzi guard over eight hundred years of events: emperors and feudal lords, ladies and knights, legends that have marked the life of the valley. In 1164 Emperor Frederick Barbarossa granted the Malaspina family the territories that from the hills of Rivanazzano reached up to Oramala, laying the foundations of the power that would shape the entire territory.
After the internal division of 1275, which marked the birth of the Marquisate of Varzi, the Malaspina dello Spino Secco decided to move the center of the village to a higher position, next to the existing houses. Here arose the oldest nucleus of the castle, probably dating back to the second half of the 13th century.
The first new buildings were erected along the first of the two orders of walls, the one with the patrol walkway, built over the moat as foreseen in the official document of the family division. From that moment the complex became the fortified heart of the new settlement.
Walking in the silence of the courtyards and among the flower gardens, the gaze is captured by the majestic 12th-century tower, once connected to the nearby Castle of Oramala. An imposing presence that still watches over the village today and invites you to discover its history.
THE ORIGINS OF THE CASTLE AND THE MALASPINA DYNASTY
Enter and let yourself be guided on a journey through time
It was then in 1838 that the history of the Malaspina family was definitively intertwined with that of the Odetti family, when Marietta, the last heir of the ancient lineage, married Count Carlo Odetti di Marcorengo. Their descendants are still the owners of the castle and, since 1983, have started an important conservative restoration that has brought to light environments and details remained hidden for centuries. A long and courageous work that, thirty years later, made possible the opening to the public of the spaces and the start of private events and cultural manifestations.
Behind its windows lie today furnished noble rooms, which have become the scene of celebrations and events. Every room, restored with care, restores the atmosphere of the eras it has crossed: from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, up to the refined suggestions of the eighteenth century.
It is possible to discover secrets, anecdotes and curiosities of the Castle of Varzi through guided tours by reservation: an opportunity to immerse yourself closely in a place that preserves the memory of Varzi and Oltrepò Pavese, between history, art and scenarios that still speak to the present.
THE CASTLE TODAY
A residence that continues to tell
The Castle of Varzi – Dimora Malaspina is a noble house that has crossed eight centuries without losing its voice.
A voice made of stone, legends, patient restorations and families who have left here more than a surname: they have left an imprint.
Today this legacy lives thanks to Count Enrico Odetti, direct descendant of the lineage, who guards the Castle with the same care as those who do not just want to preserve the past, but make it a living, open and shared place.
Here history is not a dusty memory: it is a bridge. A simple way to understand where we come from and – if we listen well – also where we are going.
Welcome to a place full of stories and traditions that remain unforgettable.