Pavia is an antiquated town in Lombardy that is over 2000 years old, located not far from Milan that evokes fairytales, particularly the likes of Rapunzel, as it is populated by several medieval towers that reach towards the sky and look down upon modern buildings.
These thin, seemingly purposeless towers, once overwhelmed the town with their quantity and numbered a hundred. Today, far fewer exist but the town remains known as the “City of 100 Towers.”
In spite of their dwindling numbers, there are still plenty of other things to see and do in the town nowadays so why not find a vacation rental in Lombardy and pay a visit to beautiful Pavia?
These thin, seemingly purposeless towers, once overwhelmed the town with their quantity and numbered a hundred. Today, far fewer exist but the town remains known as the “City of 100 Towers.”
In spite of their dwindling numbers, there are still plenty of other things to see and do in the town nowadays so why not find a vacation rental in Lombardy and pay a visit to beautiful Pavia?
It is said that during medieval times, the family with the tallest tower was believed to be the most important because they were closest to the heavens and thus closer to God, leading to an intense competition to have the largest one. Silly as it might sound to us today, the families were constantly trying to build higher turrets than the next and outdo each other. Most of these towers are, in fact, completely hollow and serve no real purpose except. Some of these can be scaled and you can take in the amazing surroundings that are offered from the top.
Once you've seen the city from above, make sure to descend once more and explore it on the ground level. Stop by the fascinating Torre Civica, a cordoned-off crumbled ruins situated next to Pavia Cathedral, the result of an accident in 1989 when the 72m high Civic Tower collapsed, leading to four fatalities. Another is the Ponte Coperto (Covered Bridge) or “Devil's Bridge” that legend says was build by the devil during a stormy Christmas Eve in 999, to steal the first pedestrian’s soul.
Once you've seen the city from above, make sure to descend once more and explore it on the ground level. Stop by the fascinating Torre Civica, a cordoned-off crumbled ruins situated next to Pavia Cathedral, the result of an accident in 1989 when the 72m high Civic Tower collapsed, leading to four fatalities. Another is the Ponte Coperto (Covered Bridge) or “Devil's Bridge” that legend says was build by the devil during a stormy Christmas Eve in 999, to steal the first pedestrian’s soul.
However, he found the tables turned when he was trapped by locals sending a dog across instead. In reality, the bridge was actually from 1351 – 1354 and the roof added by the Visconti family five years later. Part of it was destroyed by the 1944 American bombings and it was replaced with a brand new bridge similar to the old model.
The Duomo di Pavia is another incredible building. Begun in the 15th century and not completed for 400 years until the facade was finished in the 19th century, it has the third biggest Dome in Italy after the Church of St. Peter in Papal States and Florence's Cathedral. Be sure to swing by the castle, the former private residence of Visconti Family, that was built in the 14th century by Galeazzo II Visconti. Now it is home to the important museums of Pavia, known as The Civic Museums of Pavia, including the Pinacoteca Malaspina, Archaeological Museum and Lombards Hall, Medieval Section and Renaissance Gallery of pictures from the 800s, Resurgence Museum, Robecchi Bricchetti Museum and The Crypt of St. Eusebius. Finally, don't forget The University of Pavia, which was founded in the 14th century and is one of Italy's and the world's oldest universities.
The Duomo di Pavia is another incredible building. Begun in the 15th century and not completed for 400 years until the facade was finished in the 19th century, it has the third biggest Dome in Italy after the Church of St. Peter in Papal States and Florence's Cathedral. Be sure to swing by the castle, the former private residence of Visconti Family, that was built in the 14th century by Galeazzo II Visconti. Now it is home to the important museums of Pavia, known as The Civic Museums of Pavia, including the Pinacoteca Malaspina, Archaeological Museum and Lombards Hall, Medieval Section and Renaissance Gallery of pictures from the 800s, Resurgence Museum, Robecchi Bricchetti Museum and The Crypt of St. Eusebius. Finally, don't forget The University of Pavia, which was founded in the 14th century and is one of Italy's and the world's oldest universities.
Photo credits
picture 1: Magagnini Carlo Alberto / CC BY-SA 4.0;
picture 2: Geobia / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Matteo Ruaro / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Magagnini Carlo Alberto / CC BY-SA 4.0;
picture 2: Geobia / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Matteo Ruaro / CC BY-SA 3.0
