Ancient Glory of a Kingdom’s Capital: A Pavia Walking Tour

Pavia was historically one of Italy’s most significant cities.

On this walking tour, you’ll discover the remarkable past of this former capital of kingdoms. As you walk through its medieval streets, you’ll find out how this strategic river settlement evolved from Roman military camp, to royal capital, to university town.

This tour starts at the imposing Castello Visconteo, built in the 1360s after Milan’s powerful Visconti family ended Pavia’s independence. You’ll weave through Strada Nuova, past the university complex founded by the Visconti, and explore the area where Pavia’s famous medieval towers once dominated the skyline. Along the way, you’ll discover how Lombard kings, Renaissance scholars, and Italian revolutionaries all left their mark on this historic riverside city.

You’ll learn how King Theodoric the Great chose Pavia as his capital, and hear fascinating local legends like the battle between white and red angels during a medieval plague. You’ll explore the magnificent Pavia Cathedral with its enormous dome (the fourth largest in Italy), and discover how even Leonardo da Vinci contributed to Pavia’s architectural legacy. The tour ends at the picturesque covered bridge, Ponte Coperto, where the Archangel Michael is believed to have outwitted the devil.

On this 90-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:

• Visit the Università di Pavia (University of Pavia), one of Europe’s oldest universities with connections to scientist Alessandro Volta
• Admire the medieval Towers of Pavia, remnants of a time when the city boasted over 100 towers
• Learn about the Lombards who ruled Italy from Pavia for two centuries after defeating the Byzantine Empire
• Discover the significance of the Basilica of San Michele, where Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa was crowned King of Italy
• Explore the San Teodoro Basilica with its frescoes from the 1100s depicting medieval Pavia
• Discover the story behind zuppa alla pavese, a local dish created for a captured French king
• Walk along the Ticino River, once the bustling center of the city’s medieval trade

By the end of this tour, you’ll understand why this overlooked Italian gem deserves recognition for its pivotal role in European history.