The Castello di Varzi, also called Dimora Malaspina, hosts company meetings, conventions, workshops, presentations, gala dinners and weddings. The largest indoor room, the Salone Faustino Odetti, seats up to 120 wedding guests, and the adjoining rooms bring the total to 150. The castle stands on Piazza Umberto I in Varzi, in the province of Pavia, about one hour from Milan.
Seminars and company events
The castle presents its corporate offer as a made-to-measure project. The team listens to the company's goals, then builds the format and chooses the spaces with the client. Meetings, conventions, workshops and presentations are all listed on the official site.
Five indoor spaces and one courtyard serve different parts of the day. The Salone Faustino Odetti is the plenary room, described as wide and bright, suited to full-group sessions and conferences. The Mezzanino is a flexible room for small sessions or team-building activities. The Sala Donna Caterina is a quieter room for private meetings or business dinners. La Voliera suits presentations, exhibitions and informal sessions. The Sala delle Antiche Mangiatoie works for lunches and breaks.
The castle states 400 sq m of indoor exhibition areas and 1,000 sq m of outdoor areas. The Corte della Limonaia is the setting for cocktails, light lunches and evening receptions.
Professional audiovisual equipment is mentioned on the site, but not a technical specification, so ask for the room-by-room equipment list.
Weddings and receptions
The castle is recognized as a municipal wedding venue, so a civil ceremony with legal value can take place in the interior rooms or in the park. The Antiche Mangiatoie suit a civil ceremony or a buffet. The Antica Ghiacciaia, a round room, suits small gatherings. The Giardino Fiorito, with rose beds, statues and a gazebo, is the setting for the cake cutting and photographs. The Limonaia can host a buffet or a bar corner in summer. The Portico dei Musicisti is where guests can dance, and the Veranda with its wine bar and the Giardino della Contessa offer smaller corners for the end of the evening.
Rooms and capacities
The only capacity figures published are for weddings: 120 guests in the Salone Faustino Odetti and 150 with the adjoining rooms. The official site gives no seated or theatre figures for the other rooms, so request them when you enquire.
Accommodation
The castle has two rooms, the Suite della Contessa and the Camera dell'Abate. On request, they are used for the couple to prepare and for the first night. For larger groups, the castle lists partner accommodation in the immediate surroundings.
Catering
The castle has an equipped in-house kitchen and works with selected caterers and banqueting professionals. Menus are tailored for each event, with vegetarian, vegan and intolerance-friendly options. Service can run from a coffee break to a gala dinner.
History and setting
The castle rises above the Oltrepò Pavese hills and its history spans more than eight centuries. More than 15 furnished and restored rooms recall the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the eighteenth century. Guided visits and a restaurant, Ad Astra, also operate on the premises, so ask about dates when the castle is open to the public.
Getting there
Varzi is about one hour from Milan. The official site also lists Pavia, Piacenza, Alessandria and Genoa as easy to reach. The address is Piazza Umberto I, 27057 Varzi (Pavia).
