Pavia is located about 35 kilometers south of Milan and has a beautiful historic center. The city, built on the banks of the Ticino River, is primarily known as a university town. Its biggest attraction is the famous Certosa di Pavia. The city has enough attractions to spend a weekend, but can also be visited as a day trip from e.g. Milan itself.
Pavia travel guide
Useful information
Tourist information: There is an infopoint at Piazza della Stazione (tel. +39 0382 538769) and an IAT (Informazione e Accoglienza Turistica) in the historic building Palazzo Broletto (Piazza della Vittoria, 14h – tel. +39 0382 079943, opening hours Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 17.00, Saturday and Sunday from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00).
Public transport: The train station of Pavia is a 10 minute walk from the historical center. There is a direct train connection to Milan and Genoa. There are also bus connections to Linate airport and other larger cities in the Lombardy region. The local bus company is called Line S.p.a.
Tourist attractions
The main street is Via Cavour, which leads from the train station to the historic center. The central square is the Piazza della Vittoria.
Sights
The city, like many cities in Italy, is nicknamed the “City of 100 Towers”, but in reality, very few of those 100 are still standing. The biggest attraction is the Certosa di Pavia. Other beautiful attractions are the Cathedral, the already mentioned Palazzo Broletto, which serves as town hall, the Visconti Castle and the San Michele Maggiore Church.
A brief history of Pavia
Pavia was originally founded by the Romans. About 13 centuries ago the city was for a short time the capital of a large part of what is now Italy.
How to get to Pavia by car
The A54 highway connects Pavia to Genoa. The SS35 connects the city to Milan