PAVIA

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Located on the spot where the Ticino flows into the Po river, Pavia is a city that bursts with life. Its University, founded in 1361 by Galeazzo II Visconti and hosted in an elegant building renovated in the 18th and 19th centuries, is today full of students from all over Italy. Pavia has a structure that preserves its medieval imprint intact: it's a pleasure to have an aperitif sitting outside in Piazza della Vittoria, or wander around the maze of alleys and towers, among which the dome of the Duomo stands out, the third largest dome in Italy. It is also relaxing to take a walk along the river, with Ponte Coperto and Borgo Basso that was inhabited by laundresses and fishermen. Seize the opportunity to buy local food, characterised by pork and goose: the most famous products are Salame di Varzi and Salame d'oca di Mortara.

DON'T MISS

Art and Culture

On the outskirts of the historic centre there are Castello Visconteo, which today houses Musei Civici that preserve masterpieces by Bergognone, Antonello da Messina, Gian Domenico Tiepolo and Francesco Hayez; San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, a Romanesque building that holds the remains of Sant'Agostino; and Certosa di Pavia, a Renaissance building with the tombs of Ludovico il Moro and Beatrice d'Este. ...read on

Food Trails

Cured meats take the lead on tables in Pavia: pancetta, coppa, cotechino and sanguinaccio, but salame is the king with Varzi DOP, salam d'la duja or the goose salame produced in Mortara. Besides, rice served with frogs, boiled meats with peverada, the local mustard candied fruits and the numerous desserts such as Torta Paradiso, Pangialdine dei morti, Pane di San Siro. And the the wines, both red and white, like Barbera, Bonarda, Sangue di Giuda, Moscato, Malvasia. ...read on

Shopping

The shopping routes stretch along Corso Cavour, Strada Nuova and Corso Garibaldi, with their trendy boutiques. If you are an art lover, follow the sign "Bottega d'arte in Pavia", an association that gathers all historic art shops in the city. Vigoni pastry shop is the temple of sweetness and traditions from the past, opened in 1878. This shop is a unique example of Art-Nouveau style, and boasts original furnishings from the beginning of the 20th century, as well as a special recipe: the famous Torta Paradiso. ...read on

Offers

Offers and deals to discover local culture. Numerous theme packages designed for families, couples, elderly people, and children are available. ...read on