Postcard from Voghera, Italy

Set amomgst rolling hills crowned with ancient castles, Voghera is located in one of most beautiful regions of Italy, Lombardy. Nestled between the Veneto in the east, Piedmont in the west, and Switzerland to the north, Lombardy’s capital is Milan. But small and interesting cities such as Voghera or Pavia, are not yet on the radar for tourists.  

I chose Voghera as my base camp on a recent trip to Italy. The central location in Lombardy (on one of the main train arteries) allowed me to travel out for day trips to Milan, Pavia, Genoa, and many points in between. I enjoyed staying in a smaller town that was off the beaten path, and thus had plenty of opportunities to practice speaking Italian.

The Italian Lakes: Como, Maggiore, Iseo and Garda are all located within an easy drive from Voghera. You can visit some of the lakes by train, but it’s a bit of an ordeal, and luckily I didn’t need to do that. A car is definitely the transportation mode of choice around the lakes.

Because of its strategic position in northwest Italy, Voghera has been ruled by various countries and kingdoms; the Romans, the French, and Austrians,  have all occupied and influenced the history and landscape of Voghera.  Napolean once made Voghera his base camp and stayed at Palazzo Dattilini on Via Emilia.

Cathedral del Duomo, Voghera, Italy

Piazza del Duomo is the place to begin a visit to Voghera. Like most towns in Italy, it is the center of civic life. Here you can find shops, restaurants, bars, and of course gelaterias. It’s a wonderful place to sit in a small cafe like Barocco for an apertivo or take a gelato at Britz, and immerse yourself in the local culture and language.

I like the wide expansive feeling of this piazza, and the pastel and ochre colors of the old palazzos that make up the perimeter. Most of these buildings are now government offices, such as City Hall and the Mayor’s office.

I think the charm of Voghera can best be observed in the wide variety of architecture, from the tenth century Castello to the seventeenth century Cathedral del Duomo. Even the more modern buildings are colorful, and display window boxes with seasonal flowers and herbs. I think it’s a sign of a town that is proud of its heritage–and that feels like a nice place to me.

Related posts:

Hungry? Top Gelato Spots Lombardy, Italy Lake Orta: The Most Beautiful Place In Italy A Gothic Masterpiece, Duomo di Milano