Il Pioppo e la Fonte
Old past times atmospheres and scents

Il Pioppo e la Fonte (The poplar and the fountain) is a farmhouse dating from 1740 completely restored and developing itself on three floor and two buildings. With its thick walls it is hot in winter and pleasantly cold in summer. You can have your holiday here exactly like our grandparents had it many years ago, i.e. comfortably and quietly. From the southern side the windows open on fertile and emerald green rice fields and on poplar groves which draw the delicate needlepoint of the gorgeous horizon of Lomellina, while on the northern side the Alps rise in an astonishing sight.

The apartment of our guests is wide, independent and comfortable with a refrigerator and a plate warmer for cooking or simply heating up a rich and abundant breakfast. The ample garden gives the opportunity of eating your breakfast under the shadow of our ancient poplar. There are also toys for the children, bikes and a great bar-b-q to use without any limit. Inside the garden there is a parking for two cars.

Inside a triangle formed by three important rivers - Ticino on east side, Po on south side and Agogna on west side - Castello d'Agogna, former Castrum (Fortress) Goniae, is a XVII century village with a castle inside which French and Spanish armies fighting in Northern Italy stopped for a rest. On the other side of village a more modern centre is born, with shops and villas all along the route.

Our village is calm and well repaired, while enjoying the healthy climatic influence of Valle d'Aosta with her skiing resort and the Casino of Saint-Vincent, less of 100 km (60 miles) from here. The village rises in the heart of Lomellina, home of rice cultivation and country fairs all along the year. It's not far away from Milan (45 km or 27 miles), 20 km (12 miles) from the beautiful Monferrato, well known for his wines which many think are the best in Italy, 30 km (18 miles) from the ancient and academic town of Pavia, from Vercelli and Alessandria and, finally, at 45 km from Malpensa Intl.

Alda and Sergio, the owners, will be glad to accompany you where you wish or from any place within a radius of 120 km (74 miles or more).

If you are fond of landscape with hills and valleys and above all if you are fond of Italian wines, on western side you will find at less than 20 km from Castello d'Agogna the Italian Napa Valley, the Monferrato, with the ancient great vineyards of Barbera, well combed on his hills. On eastern side you will find the Oltrepò pavese, home of the Italian champagne, the so called spumante. And if you love fishing, apart from the three rivers, there is another one very near Castello d'Agogna, the Sesia river, that will grant you fat trouts and pleasant shores.

In every season you can take our bike (we call them mountain bike, but they are perfect for the plains) and go along the Rice Road, charming itinerary in the middle of ricepads, where you can do lot of bird-watching. During the several country fairs that cheer up all the four seasons, in the villages of Lomellina the food will be at the centre of everybody's attention. Rice, first choice meat, ravioli, ham and everything belongs to the pork, pasta and obviously excellent wines will make you remember happily your stay.