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Once known as the city of 100 towers, Pavia

today has fine Romanesque and

Medieval buildings, a castle, and a vibrant

historic center

The medieval towers still shape the town skyline. The main clusters still rising are rallied in Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, Via Luigi Porta, and Piazza Collegio Borromeo

Nobel families built the medieval towers to symbolize their power. Today only a few towers remain

The most important ruins are undoubtedly the three towers in the Leonardo da Vinci square, with the Torre del Maino measuring 51 metres high

Historical masonry towers, in all their forms - bell towers, civic towers, tower-houses and the watch towers of city walls are found throughout the entire Italian peninsula, where they represent a distinctive feature of many of its historical centers and, in some cases, its countryside.In Roman and medieval times, some have had great strategic and military importance

Pavia is on the train line from Milan to Genoa. There is bus service to Linate Airport and the nearby Certosa di Pavia as well as cities and towns in Lombardy. The train and bus stations are in the west part of town and linked to the historic center by Corso Cavour. It is easy to walk in Pavia's compact center but there is local bus service, too.

More than 100 medieval towers once enveloped the old town; the trio on Piazza di Leonardo da Vinci is all that remains today

The great variety of uses reserved for masonry towers has translated into a considerable variety of constructive configurations. Their heights vary from the 60-70 meters of the 11th-13th century towers built by the powerful political associations with defensive functions in mind (but also serving as symbols of the power and wealth of their aristocratic family owners) to the 20-30 meters of the tower houses, which were widely popular

(Binda, L., Anzani, A., Mirabella Roberti, G., 1997a. The failure of ancient towers: problems for their safety assessment)

Pavia's food specialties are zuppa pavese and risotto alla certosina, created by the monks of the Certosa di Pavia. In Pavia, as in much of Lombardy, you will find many risotto (rice) dishes, beef, cheeses, and baked goods. Frogs are also common in Pavia, especially in the spring when they are gathered from the rice fields

Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and sponsor of arts, trade, and defense, was born from the godhead of Jupiter with weapons. From the 2nd century BC onwards, the Romans equated her with the Greek goddess Athena. She was the virgin goddess of music, poetry, medicine, wisdom, crafts, commerce, weaving, magic. Her statue in Pavia, near the train station, is considered as an important landmark in the city.

Statue of Minerva by Francesco Messina

Madonna di Piazza Grande, requested by the people of Pavia, was put in place in 1604 in the heart of the city on the outside of the town hall building and was regarded with special devotion by the local people and above all by merchants and artisans

Made from rare, highly resistant materials (including sand from the river Ticino) the Madonna remained on the outside of the Broletto building for nearly three centuries, until 1872, at which time, in a climate of strong social conflict, it was taken to the crypt of the nearby cathedral

In the 1980s a Pavia local, Professoressa Anna Maria De Paoli Garofoli, sparked renewed interest in the story of the Madonna of Piazza Grande by the press, the authorities and the local people of Pavia, 7,800 of whom asked for it to be returned to its original location.In 1992 the statue, perfectly restored by the spontaneously established Committee for the Madonna of Piazza Grande, was solemnly moved to the cathedral and shown to the city

On the 21st of December 2002 the Madonna was returned to the Broletto, giving back to the city a work of great beauty and extraordinary significance for the people of Pavia

Borromeo College

Borromeo College was built by will of St. Charles Borromeo, planned by architect Pellegrino Pellegrini, named Tibaldi, and constructed in the years 1564 - 1586. Its mass can be well distinguished by those who watch Pavia from the other bank of the river Ticino

Borromeo College

The college selects students of the University of Pavia through a rigorous public competition based on tests taken annually. To retain their place at the college, students are required to have a university average of at least 27/30, with no scores below 24, and to pass all the exams required by the formal closing of the academic year. The ability to speak at least two foreign languages is required, demonstrated through specific, internationally-recognized certificates. Students must also attend additional courses required by IUSS or, alternatively, take at least two internal courses per academic year

Chiostro interno Borromeo College

In the square: Pius V statue cast in bronze in 1697 by Francesco Nuvoloni and Filippo Ferrari

Collegio Ghislieri

Ghislieri College, wanted by Pope Pius V Ghislieri, was planned by architect Pellegrino Pellegrini, named Tibaldi, and began in 1569. The yard underwent remarkable modifications following the Late Baroque style by architect G.A. Veneroni in the 18th cent. The Neoclassic Style Administration Building was built by will of Napoleon to host a Military School.

Founded by Pope Pius V, Antonio (Michele) Ghislieri in 1567, Ghislieri College, since 18th century laically managed, nowadays under the High Patronage of the Presidency of the Italian Republic, it is ranked among high qualifying institutions by the Italian Ministry for Education and University. Among its distinguished alumni are Carlo Goldoni and several Italian statesmen, scientists, scholars of the last two centuries.

Monumento a papa Pio V, Antonio (Michele) Ghislieri, in piazza del Collegio

The church Santa Maria del Carmine is considered amongst the best examples of Lombard Gothic architecture

Santa Maria del Carmine was begun in 1374 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, on a project attributed to Bernardo da Venezia. The construction followed a slow pace, and was restarted in 1432, being finished in 1461

The bell tower, dating to c. 1450, has numerous friezes and a triple mullioned window with marble columnsThe bell tower of Santa Maria del Carmine was restored in the 1800's

Santa Maria del Carmine

Santa Maria del Carmine

Vincenzo Foppa Madonna con Bambino, angeli e il donatore Giovanni Battista Malletta, 1462University Art Museum, Princeton (from Santa Maria del Carmine)

Santa Maria del Carmine

Santa Maria del Carmine

Santa Maria del Carmine

Santa Maria del Carmine

Text: Internet

Pictures: Internet & Melinda HorvatCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foi oreanuşwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Mauro Giuliani - Grand Duo Concertant for Guitar and Flute, Op.85