Casteggio: history, wine and the identity of one of the symbols of Oltrepò Pavese

In the heart of the Oltrepò Pavese, among hills embroidered with vineyards and roads that for centuries have connected the plains to the Apennines, lies Casteggio, one of the most representative and distinctive towns of the entire Oltrepò region.

It is not simply a town famous for wine: Casteggio is a place where Roman history, agricultural culture, trade and landscape have intertwined for more than two thousand years, creating a unique identity that still reflects the authentic soul of the Oltrepò today.

The origins of Casteggio date back to Roman times, when the area was known as Clastidium. It was here that one of the most important events in the ancient history of Northern Italy took place: the famous Battle of Clastidium in 222 BC, during which the Roman consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus defeated the Insubrian Gauls.

This event made the area strategically important even in Roman times, thanks to its privileged position between the Po Valley and the trade routes leading towards the Ligurian coast. Even today, walking through the town streets and observing the surrounding landscape, one can still sense the historical significance of a place that for centuries served as a crossroads for peoples, commerce and cultures.

Speaking about Casteggio inevitably means speaking about wine. The hills surrounding the town represent one of the oldest and most prestigious wine-growing areas in the entire Oltrepò Pavese.

The territory is home to some of the region’s iconic grape varieties, including:

• Barbera
• Croatina
• Pinot Nero
• Riesling

For generations, viticulture has shaped the rhythm of local life. The vineyards define the landscape, wineries preserve stories of families and traditions, while rural culture continues to play a central role in the identity of Casteggio.

The relationship between Casteggio and wine is not merely economic, but deeply cultural: here, wine represents memory, landscape and a sense of belonging.

When people imagine the Oltrepò Pavese, they often unconsciously picture the very landscapes surrounding Casteggio: gentle hills, neatly arranged vineyards, historic farmhouses and small rural hamlets immersed in greenery.

The territory perfectly embodies the meeting point between plains and hills. This position favoured the agricultural and commercial development of the area over the centuries, making Casteggio one of the principal centres of eastern Oltrepò Pavese.

The roads crossing the countryside still allow visitors to discover authentic views, where the agricultural landscape retains a strong historical and rural identity.

For centuries, Casteggio has been an important commercial hub. Agricultural products, wine, cereals and goods arriving from the Apennine valleys and the plains all passed through the town.

Its strategic location transformed the town into a natural point of reference for local trade, contributing to the growth of farming activities, workshops and markets that deeply shaped the economic history of the territory.

Even today, Casteggio maintains this dynamic vocation, remaining one of the liveliest and most recognisable centres of the Oltrepò Pavese.

Among the town’s symbolic landmarks stands Palazzo Certosa Cantù, an elegant historic building that houses the Archaeological Museum of Casteggio and Oltrepò Pavese.

The museum preserves important artefacts linked to the Roman history of the area and represents one of the main cultural references of the Oltrepò region. Through archaeological findings and historical documents, it tells the story of a territory that played a central role in Northern Italy throughout the centuries.

The town centre also features historic buildings, churches and urban corners that bear witness to Casteggio’s commercial and agricultural past.

What truly makes Casteggio special is its ability to embody several different souls of the Oltrepò at the same time:

• the agricultural identity
• the historical identity
• the commercial identity
• the wine-making identity
• the landscape identity

Unlike locations that are primarily tourist-oriented, Casteggio still preserves a strong sense of authenticity. Here, the connection with the land is not built for visitors, but originates from a genuine history shaped by work, vineyards, trade and rural culture.

And it is precisely this authenticity that makes Casteggio one of the most important symbols of the entire Oltrepò Pavese.