Explorations of a former capital city in Italy.Â
Pavia is not even close to being one of the most famous cities in Italy, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an extremely lengthy and complicated history all the same. Located about 22 mi (33 km) south of Milan, Pavia was the capital city of various kingdoms, and communes. The city was also ruled by the Roman Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, various noblemen and so on. Even the basic history of Pavia is hard to grasp.
Founded by the Romans, Pavia would become a headquarters for the Ostrogoths after the fall of Rome, capital city of the Lombards and then the capital city of the Kingdom of Italy (part of the Holy Roman Empire) during the early Middle Ages. It was an independent commune for a while and then conquered by a noble family from Milan, the Visconti. And all this before 1400. Pavia would continue to be passed around until around 1859 when it became part of the Kingdom of Italy that would go on to control what we consider Italy today.
Walking around Pavia today, you can see the traces of this complex history in the city.
Jana Irving It was a bit of a gloomy day.
Jana Irving Cheese, sausage and boar/pig heads?
Jana Irving A Carabinieri station in a former Augustine monastery.
Jana Irving San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro (Saint Peter in Golden Sky), a Romanesque church (12th century) build over a Lombard church (7th century-ish).
Jana Irving The church is named for the golden mosaic in the apse.
Jana Irving Under which is the 14th century Arca di Sant’Agostino, the final resting place of St. Augustine of Hippo.
Jana Irving Santa Maria del Carmine, a example of Gothic architecture in Lombardy. It was built by one of the Visconti.
Jana Irving Very Italian Gothic.
Jana Irving Some gorgeous chapels in this church.
Jana Irving I could not get back far enough to get the entire very tall Cathedral in one photo. A tower that was connected to the church collapsed in 1989.
Jana Irving Officially named Cattedrale di Santo Stefano e Santa Maria Assunta, the cathedral was built in the 15th century in the Renaissance style.
Jana Irving The central dome is 318 ft (97 m) tall and is the fourth largest in Italy.
Jana Irving The church seems cavernous.
Jana Irving I don’t know who is buried here but that is one fancy tomb. It was probably a bishop.
Jana Irving I just love the earthy colors the locals have chosen to paint everything.
Jana Irving Tower house!
Jana Irving San Teodoro is a typical Romanesque Northern Italian church. Typical until you find some hidden gems like this 12th century mosaic from early in the church’s life.
Jana Irving There’s some 16th century frescos as well.
Jana Irving Fresco featuring Pavia’s skyline.
Jana Irving Part of the old city walls.
Jana Irving The Ponte Coperto (Covered Bridge) is a reconstruction based on the original 14th century bridge that was severely damaged in WWII.
Jana Irving Section of the original bridge next to the new one. The new bridge is a bit taller and a bit shorter than the original so it wasn’t an exact reconstruction. Had the bridge been reconstructed today and not in 1949, the original bridge, with repairs, might still be around.
Jana Irving It’s a bit dark inside.
Jana Irving The River Ticino.
Jana Irving Back across the river and I found another tower house.
Jana Irving Another grand church, San Michele Maggiore, from the 11-12 century.
Jana Irving The carvings around the doors are amazing.
Jana Irving Close up!
Jana Irving The carvings include inside.
Jana Irving All the capitals of the columns are carved as well.
Jana Irving More carvings near the entrance to the crypt.
Jana Irving Very cute.
Jana Irving The Three Towers of Pavia. When they were built in the 11-13th centuries, they were in a dense urban environment and not the open plaza they are in today.
Jana Irving Walking through the courtyards of the University of Pavia.
Jana Irving Castello Visconteo di Pavia, the home of the Visconti family.
Jana Irving When it was constructed in the 14th century, the courtyard was completely surrounded by the immense building. After some battle damage in the 16th century, the building is now U-shaped.
Jana Irving This awesome building today hosts the local civic museum.
Jana Irving Some of the rooms still had some frescos.
I wasn’t sure at first if I was going to visit Pavia or not. I had a couple options for the day planned. Since the weather was poor in the Alps, I ended up in Pavia. Honestly, I’m so glad I did. It was a nice easy chill day wandering around the streets of Pavia. I also found some good pizza. Pavia was a great choice.
Check out my next update where I explore the city of Milan!
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Start at the beginning of this adventure.
