Bainaria

Bagnaria is a medieval village of 661 inhabitants in the province of Pavia in Lombardy. The name derives from the Latin and refers to marshy soils. The history of the town dates back to the Iron Age, as evidenced by the archaeological finds found in the area of the castelliere. The fiefdom was owned by several nobles who ruled between the 15th and 19th centuries. The most important monument is the Bagnaria castle. The castle is located in the Staffora valley and retains the structure of a fortified village; the structure is in stone and dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries when it was a fief of the Malaspina. Due to the various collapses, few corners of the walls remain standing. The village has kept a simple aspect where the characteristic stone houses, the narrow and winding streets and the paths that surround the countryside stand out. The 12th century church of San Bartolomeo Apostolo has a Romanesque façade and is overshadowed by a four-storey bell tower. Inside it is possible to admire the medallions and the frescoes with the games of arches. The ceiling alternates square and round shapes. Inside the old historical interior is the Palazzo Malaspina on the front of which the coat of arms is represented. The church dedicated to the Pilgrim Madonna with a single nave where the beautiful statue of the Madonna is kept. The church dedicated to Sant'Antonio da Padova which preserves inside the depictions of the saint's life and the statue of the Madonna della Guardia. There are numerous events that take place in the town such as the cherry festival, the dream of a train in the village and many others.