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PaviaPavia is an ancient, interesting city just right for a one-day trip outside Milano. The old city center can easily be covered on foot: walking along the streets and squares, you can see the architectural sights from centuries and centuries of history. From the Roman Era to the Middle Ages, from the Visconti and Sforza eras to the Renaissance, from Neoclassicism to Liberty style you will see remains in Pavia.. I recommend you end your trip by seeing the wonderful Certosa di Pavia, that is 5 km outside the city, which was built around 1396 on the wishes of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milano.
Pavia was the capital of the Longobards, it summarizes, with its architecture, the historical periods of its history; the Visconti Castle and the university buildings, the Cathedral and the church of St. Peter in Ciel d'Oro, the church of St. Michael, where the Longobard kings were once crowned and just outside, the miracle of marble of the Certosa, the authentic jewel of the Renaissance arts. Pavia: an itinerary to visit the cityPavia, the ancient Roman city of Ticinum, later the capital of the Longobards (571-774) and the Carolingians, at one point, overshadowed Milano in importance, then fell into decay. What remains is a fascinating turreted city, medieval in aspect. Coming from Milano and the Certosa di Pavia, crossing Piazza Dante, we come immediately to San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, a magnificent Romanesque church of sandstone and brick, so called (a ciel d'oro n means "golden sky") because of its ceiling which was one time gilded; in it are buried St.Augustine (in a magnificent marble Tomb of 1360), Severmus Boethius and King Liutprand. From here we pass on to the Castello Visconteo, a handsome square building with towers, crenellated walls and lovely courtyard: at present, it houses a number of collections. Turning down Corso Cairoli, we come to the Gothic church of S. Francesco (13° century) and from here to the University, one of the oldest in Italy. Beside the University rise three medieval towers; together with the two in Via Porto these are the only ones left intact of the hundred or more which once gave Pavia its peculiar aspect. Note also the famous Renaissance Colleges by Ghislieri, Borromeo, Castiglioni etc. From the University take Via Roma to the Painting Gallery in the Palazzo Malaspina in Piazza Petrarca: it contains an important group of works by Antonello do Messina, Giovanni Bellini, Correggio, Cima da Conegliano, Vivarlni, Foppa and others.
Taking Via Venti Settembre and passing by the Lombard-Gothic church of S. Maria del Carmine, we reach the Renaissance Cathedral. Following Strada Nuova and Corso Garibaldi, we come upon the jewel of Pavia, the flawless church of San Michele, which is one of the most important creations of all Romanesque architecture. Pavia: how to get therePavia is on the Trenitalia train line from Milano to Genoa, it takes half an hour to go from Milano to Pavia, and the trains run very frequently. There is a bus service to Linate Airport and the nearby Certosa di Pavia as well as cities and towns in Lombardy. The train and bus stations are in the west part of town and linked to the historic center by Corso Cavour. It is easy to walk in Pavia's compact center but there is local bus service, too. Pavia is a good destination for a one day trip from Milano when the weather is good, as in wintertime there is frequently heavy fog that prevents the enjoyment of the place.
Don’t miss in Pavia
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