Parona Lomellina, a small centre located in a geographical area of the same name in its second part "the Lomellina", in the province of Pavia, located in a wide, fertile plain crossed by the Agogna and Terdoppio streams which, with their course, have allowed the cultivation of rice, fruit trees and vegetables since ancient times.
Known for its historical past both in ancient times during the Roman Empire and medieval period during the era of the Tornielli Lordship, boasting a monumental and cultural heritage of great importance, excellent wines, a gastronomic offer of absolute importance included in the confectionery field with the delicious, sweet Offelle.
Once you are in the municipal terms of Parona Lomellina you will notice an area where rows of poplars, rice paddies, suggestive groves, river canals and small streams together represent the entire essence of the typical Lomellina landscape.
Starting from the municipal suburbs you will also notice some farmsteads that truly reflect the rural soul of this municipality, among which the most important are those called Castello, Scoglio, Naina, Scocchellina and the Santo Spirito Mill, settlements developed in a large plain dedicated for centuries to agriculture and breeding, activities that have always played a fundamental role in the local economy.
The historic centre opens around the beautiful Piazza Nuova inaugurated in 1989 which, although of contemporary design, has an undoubted charm with buildings in white shades and red roofs that form a large quadrilateral with suggestive arcades and lampposts with a neo-Renaissance design located in strategic positions.
Continuation with the fourteenth-century Parish Church of San Pietro Apostolo, with the first document certifying its existence dated 1259 with the identification of a Priest Rector called Jacobus and probably dependent on the parish of Santa Maria or Santa Croce in nearby Mortara.
The church was completely redeveloped in 1588 at the behest of the aristocratic De Marchi - Tornielli family.boasts a refined, large façade of Baroque imprint and inside housing four altars dedicated to St. George the Martyr, St. Anthony of Padua, Our Lady of the Rosary and Jesus Christ Dead, valuable frescoes, a wooden urn with a wax Baby Jesusmade in the 18th century and the famous "Tibi tabo claves".
Other highlights are a beautiful, large canvas attributed to the Paronese master Lorenzo Toma who also embellished the Church in the central nave with another 14 canvases representing the Via Crucis decorations by Vigevano artists, a painting of the Lanino school and a splendid pipe organ built by the Novara organ builder Alessandro Mentasti in 1893.
Afterwards you can visit of the Church of San Siro, a Romanesque masterpiece of excellence in which a magnificent terracotta bell tower stands out, an ecclesiastical building considered a local historical symbol portrayed in the packages of the famous Offelle.
At the end of the visit I recommend visiting a local confectionery company producing the famous Offelle, dry biscuits typical of Lomellina which for their history and delicacy are part of the elite of Italian pastry.
This product was created in the 19th century by the sisters Pasqualina and Linin Colli who on the occasion of a breakfast corresponding to the local feast of Our Lady of the Rosary guessed this recipe which has since acquired significant popularity.
Initially, the Offelle were sold in limited production with orders strictly on request and handcrafted without the use of sophisticated machinery.
Many things changed in 1969 when an intense commercial launch began, an event due to the concomitance of a fair set up to celebrate this Pavese biscuit.
That event that was the first edition in that year continues to be celebrated annually as usual on the first Sunday of October.
The Offelle considered a local emblem are protected by a guarantee mark issued by the Pro Loco of Parona Lomellina to three companies, certified that protects its original origin, methods of preparation and denomination with a patent filed in 1971, a source of pride for the producers who have also raised their fame both nationally and internationally.
With an oval shape with sharp ends, the traditional ingredients are eggs, butter, soft wheat flour, sugar, yeast, olive oil, simple components kneaded with meticulous dosages, all then baked in the oven at a temperature of 200 degrees for about 15 minutes.
The biscuit, with a light golden color, is nutritious, not heavy with variants that include the addition of goose lard and chocolate, a product that is a distant relative of the Offella di Sartirana Lomellina, known for its amphibian shape, produced in this municipality of the same area on the occasion of the Frog Festival.
The original boxes, yellow in color with a green outline, and the packaging bags that bear the seal and registered trademark that guarantees Parona Lomellina the title of cradle of production and the insignia of genuineness, decrees of their kind rather unusual at a territorial level since everything is limited to an area reduced exclusively to the municipality and at the end of the visit tastings and for those who wish to buy on site.
Time for your launch loyal to the local gstronomy I recommend Risotto with Berries or Ravioli di Magro with Walnut Sauce as traditional dishes, while among the second courses Grilled Beef Rib Steak with Roasted Potatoes with Butter or Rago'.
A visit to Parona Lomellina is recommended for all those who wish to experience a day of tourism admiring the evocative landscapes of this geographical area of the province of Pavia, its remarkable historical and artistic heritage and at the same time getting to know a product such as the historic iconic Offelle.
Link : http://www.parona-lomellina.it/html/parona.htm
Where to Stay | Recommended Accommodation
Residence I Mulini
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