This past Sunday I visited another town near me, Pavia. Pavia is south of Milan, about 2 hours away from me. You've probably never heard of it, but it is another marvelous little village in Italy. Who you may recognize though are some of the famous figures that have walked through Pavia's streets -- Charlemagne was crowned King of Pavia in 774, Einstein worked in Pavia at one point, and Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the battery, worked as a professor at the University of Pavia.
Speaking of universities, one of the coolest things about Pavia is the university here! One of the oldest universities in the world and in Italy, the University of Pavia was founded in 1361. It is particularly noted for the study of law, science, medicine, and surgery, and some famous alumni include Christopher Columbus and Camillo Golgi.
There are a number of interesting statues and facades in the building and pretty courtyards where you can sit down and watch Italian college life in action.
There are also many interesting churches in Pavia that I visited. There is of course the amazing Duomo of Pavia. You can see the Duomo from almost all corners of the city, and for good reason because it is the fourth largest Duomo in Italy, after the Duomos in Florence and Rome!
The cathedral was going to be covered in marble but it retains its brick exterior because money actually ran out before its completion.
Work on the church began in 1488 but was finished many years later in the 20th century. Da Vinci and Donato Bramante both had a hand in designing this iconic cathedral.
On the side of the Duomo are the remains of the medieval bell tower which collapsed in 1989, tragically killing several people in the process.
Another beautiful church in Pavia is the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi.
This is an interesting church because you have the Romanesque architecture at the back and the late Gothic architecture at the front. As you enter, you can admire the rich polychrome façade decorated with architectural elements and the twin doors similar to the basilica church dedicated to the Saint at Assisi.
Inside the church are wonderful fourteenth-century paintings in the Beccaria chapel and the wooden choir stalls.
Thought I was done with the churches? Not yet! Next up, Basilica di San Michele Maggiore, which is the third church I visited in Pavia. This church is actually a reconstruction of a 7th-century church which once was built here, but collapsed because of an earthquake.
When it was reconstructed in the 11th century, it became a prime example of a Lombard-Romanesque architectural church in Italy. It is characterized by its use of sandstone and a very long transept.
Inside there is plenty of artwork and fine frescoes to admire. Many important coronations took place here, including those of Charlemagne and Barbarossa. And if that's not interesting, I don't know what is! See? I saved the best church for last!
There are many statues that I saw in Pavia's streets as I walked.
Pavia's main square, Piazza della Vittoria
I also visited the Castello Visconteo (Visconti Castle), which was built as a residence for a local wealthy family in 1360. Today, just four towers remain of the castle but it is still huge as you can see many decorated rooms, porches, loggias and great frescoes inside showing how refined of a court residence it was.
Inside the castle are the Pavia Civic Museums and the art museums, which display the history of Pavia.
The castle is enclosed in a park, which you can stroll in and spend hours studying the castle's beautiful façade.
After taking a walk through the city, my friend and I walked across the Ponte Coperto (Covered Bridge). The original Ponte Coperto was destroyed in World War II, so this bridge is actually a reconstruction.
Pavia sits on the Ticino River near its confluence with the Po River.
Me and my friend, Eleonora, under the Ponte Coperto
There were plenty of open-air markets in Pavia this day and I saw one bancarella (stand) selling Vin Brulé, Italy's version of mulled wine! Made with orange, lemon, cinnamon, cloves, sugar, wine, and a bit of Brandy, this spiced and steaming wine is a staple at outdoor Christmas markets here in Italy.
We stopped for lunch at a trattoria (restaurant) where I got pappardelle pasta with a cream sauce and salmon.
After lunch we got hot chocolate, Cioccolato con Panna. It was necessary and quite tasty on this chilly day!
The sunset in Pavia at the end of the day
And that's all for Pavia! An ancient university town in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, Pavia is a hidden gem. There is not shortage of quirky and unique things to see in Pavia's historic center, and a walk through this town could easily take up a whole day. It is small but gorgeous and is packed with beautiful churches, parks, piazzas, and other cultural treasures.
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