Pavia is a city of Lombardy, about 35 km south from Milan. It has one of the oldest University in Italy and hosts 25.000 student every year of which at least 400 are foreigners.
HISTORY AND ART
The history of the city of Pavia is characterised of great splendour and distinction phases, from its foundation, which go back to the Roman Era. The actual city still preserve all the features of the main nucleus of the ancient Ticinum (former name of the city for the Romans), indeed the inner city follow the model of the roman “castrum”, which is possible to observe in the cross-shaped map between “Corso Cavour” and “Strada Nuova”. Pillaged several times from the Barbarians, it has been conquered by the Langobards in 572 A.D. and became the capital of their Regnum Italie, with the name of Papia.
The wonderful church of “San Michele Maggiore” founded in the 6th of that time in which the city represented the capital of the Langobard’s Reign; location of important celebrations, among which the coronation of Frederick I Barbarossa June the 18th today, one of the best example of Romanesque architecture in Italy. It display a characteristic façade “a capanna” (à double pente), garnished of several sculpture, that unfortunately, because of the fragility of sandstone of which is made, is going to deteriorate with the passage of time.
With the come to power of the Visconti from Milan, in 1359, the development and renewal of the city proceeded, becoming proud holder of astonishing pieces of art. Just mention the Certosa, which construction has been started for the willing of Gian Galeazzo Visconti in 1396 and it continued with continuous additions and garnishments in the following years, until it has been completed in the 18th Century. The majestic monastery, placed about 8 km north from Pavia, represent one of the late gothic’s masterpieces, which includes also a gorgeus church, cloister, bibblioteque and blooming garden of the Carthusian monks.
The complex is still used by the monks even though every day is open to visit. For every further information, we redirect you to the website of “Comune di Pavia”, Tourism office.
Always thanks to the Visconti’s dynasty took place the building of the Castle, connected with Certosa though the ancient Ticino’s Park, favourite haunting location by the most important Italian and foreign nobles. The building, decorated by artist such Leonardo da Vinci and Bramante, includes the civic art gallery “Malaspina” and it is surrounded of public garden where the students of Pavia loves to relax.
In the same period was built also the Duomo, which its imposing dome is the third biggest in Italy after the ones of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and the Florence’s Duomo. In the cathedral worked well known artist as Dolcebuono and Leonardo da Vinci who curated the technique and the materials. Actually is still under restoration work, after the collapse of the adjacent civic tower on March 17th 1989, where four citizens lose their lifes.
In 1454 the city started to belong to the dukedom of Sforza and since then the destiny of Pavia is tied to the Milan’s one, indeed, both territory meet the Austrian domination before to be part of “Regno D’Italia” in 1861. During the World War II the city was bombed several times from the Allied forces which destroyed “ponte vecchio sul Ticino” (from 14th Century). In substitution was built in 1949 a new covered bridge, which, togheter with the laudress statue, is the symbol of Pavia.
From the bank of Borgo Ticino is possible to enjoy the best sight over the city.
In addition to the monuments listed above, in Pavia there are several further historical places and of artistic interest among which is to mention the churches of “San Teodoro” and “del Carmine”, Piazza della Vittoria (placed in the exact centre of the city, in which there is the Broletto), the colleges Borromeo and Ghislieri with the squares in front of them and the historic theatre Fraschini, lately restored.