Hotels in Pavia

Pavia: Medieval Towers and Po River Crossings

Pavia sits on the Ticino River, 35 km south of Milan in Lombardy. The city ruled as capital of the Lombard Kingdom from 572 AD and later hosted one of Europe's oldest universities, founded in 1361. That academic heritage shapes daily life — the Università degli Studi di Pavia enrolls over 25,000 students, filling the porticoed streets of the centro storico year-round.

The Certosa di Pavia, a Carthusian monastery begun in 1396 under Gian Galeazzo Visconti, stands 8 km north of the city centre and draws visitors for its Gothic-Renaissance marble facade. Inside the old town, the Ponte Coperto — a covered bridge rebuilt after WWII bombing — spans the Ticino and frames the riverside Borgo Ticino neighbourhood. The Torre Civica collapsed in 1989, but several medieval towers still define the skyline along Strada Nuova.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Direct trains from Milano Centrale take 25–35 minutes; the station is a 15-minute walk from the cathedral.
• When to visit: April through June offers mild weather before summer heat along the river.
• Day trips: The Certosa di Pavia is reachable by bus from the central bus terminal on Viale Trieste.