Weekend in Pavia? Here’s Why This Ancient City Should Be Your Next Escape
Situated in the southwest region of Lombardy, Pavia is a little-known city with a lot to offer. Even though Pavia is the provincial capital and has grown significantly, it is still a human-sized city, only 40 kilometers away from the bustling metropolis of Milan. Geographically speaking, Pavia is situated close to the Ticino River, a few kilometers north of where it meets the Po, and a short distance from the Piedmont and Emilia Romagna regions. Pavia is a top-tier tourist destination that can evoke strong emotions in its visitors due to its very ancient origins, the cultural fervor displayed by the numerous museums and art galleries, and the center’s vibrancy.
Even though the Romans laid the groundwork for the city and created the urban layout that is still easily visible when looking at the town from above, the first people to settle in the present-day Pavia region were ancient Gallic tribes. After being repeatedly destroyed by the barbarians, the center—then known as Ticinum—was taken over by the Lombards in 572 and given the name Papia, the capital of their empire. Before Charlemagne seized power in 774, the Lombard hegemony lasted for more than two centuries. Pavia gradually lost prominence during the Middle Ages after becoming a part of the Duchy of Milan. From the early eighteenth century until the middle of the nineteenth century, the city was controlled by the Spanish, French, and Austrians, who took turns ruling the region in that order. It joined the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1859, which was the precursor to the Kingdom of Italy, which would emerge two years later.
Pavia’s historic center is a treasure trove of riches just waiting to be unearthed, where history, art, and culture all coexist harmoniously. The district on the left bank of the Ticino contains the oldest section, while Borgo Ticino, a distinctive neighborhood connected to the rest of Pavia by the magnificent Ponte Coperto, stretches out on the other side of the river. The long, narrow Piazza della Vittoria, formerly known as Piazza Grande, is the main square. The covered market lies beneath the square and was constructed in 1958 as a replacement for the market that was already there in Piazza Arnaboldi. The Basilica of San Michele Maggiore, a masterwork in the Lombard Romanesque style finished in the first half of the 12th century, is the city’s most well-known and well-known medieval monument. Sandstone is used extensively throughout the structure, even in place of terracotta, which was also used to decorate the interior. Over the centuries, the basilica, which features a Latin cross plan, has played host to many significant occasions and lavish rituals, including Frederick I Barbarossa’s coronation in 1155.
Another striking structure is the Cathedral of Pavia, a massive structure shaped like a Greek cross and devoted to Saint Stephen. Bishop Ascanio Maria Sforza Visconti ordered its construction to begin at the end of the 15th century, but some unfinished portions weren’t finished until 1898, when Giovanni Antonio Amadeo’s design was used. The enormous central dome, which is the third largest in Italy after those atop St. Peter’s and the Florence Cathedral, is unquestionably one of the most amazing features.
Adjacent to it was the stunning Civic Tower, which abruptly fell on its own on March 17, 1989, after standing in Pavia’s historic center for about seven centuries.
Pavia has numerous other churches that are worth seeing while staying within the realm of the sacred. The oldest basilica in the city, the church of Saints Gervasio and Protasio; San Francesco, whose façade is reminiscent of the Chiaravalle Abbey; San Teodoro, which is home to frescoes by Bartolomeo Suardi, known as Bramantino; and the church of Sant’Eusebio, a very rare example of Lombard architecture that includes a crypt dating back to the 7th century, are a few of the buildings we remember: San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro, whose origins date back to the 7th century, though a good portion of the structure was finished in the early 12th century.
The same is true of the palaces and civil structures if the religious testimonies are of truly exceptional value. The Visconti Castle, constructed by Galeazzo II Visconti in 1360, is one of the most significant testimonies. The Malaspina Art Gallery, which displays a variety of artifacts, is currently housed inside. Among the palaces, we recall Palazzo Mezzabarba, which is now the location of the town hall, Palazzo Bottigella, and Palazzo Malaspina.
The University of Pavia, which is unquestionably one of the oldest in the nation in terms of history and tradition, merits its own chapter. Ugo Foscolo, Vincenzo Monti, Lazzaro Spallanzani, Giulio Natta, and Alessandro Volta are just a few of the notable individuals who have studied in Pavia and laid the groundwork for their success. The university was founded in 825.
Pavia has many green areas, many of which are dispersed throughout the central districts, as befits a modern city that is regarded as one of the most “livable” in Italy. The Area Vul, which stretches along the right bank of the Ticino between Ponte della Libertà and Ponte Coperto, the Malaspina Gardens, which are near Piazza Petrarca and regularly host concerts and cultural events, the Castle Gardens, which have games and entertainment for children, and the Vernavola Park, a vast expanse of green space that stretches north of the city between bike paths, woods, and wildlife oases, are some of the most significant parks and public gardens that we can still remember.
The Certosa di Pavia, which is roughly 8 km north of the city, is without a doubt one of the most significant attractions in its territory. The centerpiece of the Carthusian monks’ monastic life, this magnificent late Gothic monastery is made up of two cloisters and a magnificent church with three naves. Beside the church, which in proportion replicates the Milan Cathedral’s structure, is a small cloister.
With a length of 125 meters, the large cloister provides access to 24 monks’ homes with gardens. The Certosa di Pavia takes at least half a day to visit, and because of its rural setting between Pavia and Milan, it frequently serves as a reason for Milanese to take a trip outside of town. It is especially busy on Sunday afternoons and holidays.
With severe, rainy winters and muggy, humid summers, Pavia’s climate is continental and similar to that of the majority of Po Valley cities. Impenetrable fog blankets that occasionally do not dissipate even during the day frequently form in the fall and winter, obstructing airflow and raising pollution levels. The neighboring hilly regions experience more rainfall, which peaks in the spring (April–May) and fall (October–November). Thunderstorms are common in the summer, abrupt and violent, and frequently accompanied by hail and strong winds. Snow may fall during the winter months of December through February, but it rarely builds up to substantial amounts on the ground before melting entirely in a matter of days.
Transportation-wise, Pavia is accessible from the nearby Milanese airports of Linate and Malpensa, from which regular train connections to Pavia are available, or from the Milano Centrale station, from which special buses to the city are available. The center is situated along the A 53 motorway, a brief two-lane link road that links it to the A 7 MilanGenoa. This is important to remember if you intend to travel to Pavia by car. There are many bus routes for urban transportation, but since the historic center is not very large, you might want to explore Pavia on foot.
