What to see in Pavia

Pavia | ponte sul Ticino

Image source: Circuito città d’arte.it

WHAT TO SEE IN PAVIA

If you are looking for an itinerary explaining you what to see in Pavia, that’s the right post for you.
Pavia was the capital of the Kingdom of the Lombards, and is home to one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1361.
The heart of the city is Piazza della Vittoria (Vittoria Square), but all around it there are churches, museums and monuments illustrating the glorious and, in some respects, mysterious past of Pavia.

Here is what to see in Pavia, which is a list of 5 places to discover this beautiful city.

Certosa Pavia

Interno della Certosa di Pavia. Image source: Hotel Le Gronde.it

CASTELLO VISCONTEO (VISCONTI CASTLE) AND THE CIVIC MUSEUMS

 

The first thing to see in Pavia is the Castello Visconteo (Visconti Castle), built in 1360 by Galeazzo II Visconti to be the main residence of the Visconti family. The Castle houses the Civic Museums of Pavia, which retrace the history of the city, starting from archaeological finds, to Lombard period, when Pavia was the capital of the Lombard Kingdom, up to the 19th century.

READ ALSO: Sleeping in a castle in Italy.

BASILICA DI SAN PIETRO IN CIEL D’ORO (BASILICA OF SAINT PETER IN GOLDEN SKY)

The Church was chosen by the Lombard King Liutprand, who is buried here, to house the body of Saint Augustine.

DUOMO DI PAVIA (CATHEDRAL OF PAVIA)

 

The dome that towers above the city of Pavia is the dome of the Cathedral; it has an octagonal plan and is one of the biggest domes in Italy.

Duomo Pavia

Il Duomo di Pavia. Image source: www.italia.it

BASILICA DI SAN MICHELE MAGGIORE (BASILICA OF SAINT MICHEAL MAJOR)

Here you can admire the main relics dating back to the period in which Pavia was the capital of the Kingdom of the Lombards, and in fact, the first Lombard coin depicted the Church of Saint Michael Major.

CERTOSA OF PAVIA (CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY OF PAVIA)

 

About 7 kilometers from Pavia you can admire the Certosa (Carthusian monastery), a Renaissance masterpiece which served as a private chapel and family mausoleum of the Visconti, rulers of Milan.

READ ALSO: What to do in Parma, discovering Correggio’s masterpieces.

Pavia | Certosa

La Certosa di Pavia. Image source: Settemuse.it

READ ALSO: 5 italian cities to see in 2017.

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4 thoughts on “What to see in Pavia

  1. appena tornata da Pavia!guida essenziale la tua; rimane ovviamente sottinteso il ponte coperto, imprescindibile. io ho visitato tutto quello che consigli e condivido quanto scrivi. non ho visto allninterno il castello visconteo (chiuso) dove a settembre inizia una mostra sui longobardi. in passato so che ci son state altre mostre interessanti.
    mi manca anche la certosa.
    ho fatto anche i una capatina ai tanti chiostri (deserti) dell’universita con le torri medievali e in via Foscolo 11 dove hanno soggiornato prima Foscolo e poi Einstein (ma per una sola estate, da ragazzo). prevedo futuro post sulla mostra dei Longobardi?

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