Visconti Castle

Pavia, Italy

The Visconti Castle in Pavia was built in 1360 by Galeazzo II Visconti, soon after the taking of the city, a free city-state until then. The credited architect is Bartolino da Novara. The castle used to be the main residence of the Visconti family, while the political capital of the state was Milan. North of the castle a wide park was enclosed, also including the Certosa of Pavia, founded 1396 according to a vow of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, meant to be a sort of private chapel of the Visconti dynasty. The Battle of Pavia (1525), climax of the Italian Wars, took place inside the castle park.

There are some significant proofs of the great frescoes showing battles, hunting and middle-class life scenes, which decorated rooms, porches and loggias. Another excellent proof is the complete decoration of the splendid Blue Room with its gold and lapislazuli. Perhaps it was the seat of the Visconti library with its 1.000 manuscripts and commissioned by Petrarch.

It presently houses the Civic Museums of Pavia (Museo Civici di Pavia) including the Pinacoteca Malaspina, Museo Archeologico and Sala Longobarda, Sezioni Medioevale e Rinascimentale Quadreria dell’800 (Collezione Morone), Museo del Risorgimento, Museo Robecchi Bricchetti, and the Cripta di Sant’Eusebio.

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Address

Viale XI Febbraio 35, Pavia, Italy
See all sites in Pavia

Details

Founded: 1360
Category: Castles and fortifications in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.vivipavia.it

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Certosa di Pavia (7,4 km)
Pavia Cathedral (0,8 km)
Pavia Botanical Garden (0,7 km)
Santa Maria del Carmine Church (0,6 km)
San Michele Maggiore Church (0,9 km)
Santa Maria di Canepanova Church (0,5 km)
San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro (0,3 km)


Milan Cathedral (30,5 km)
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (30,7 km)
Royal Palace of Milan (30,4 km)
Sforza Castle (31,2 km)
Gallerie di Piazza Scala (30,9 km)
La Scala (30,9 km)
San Babila Church (30,9 km)
San Carlo al Corso (30,8 km)
Pinacoteca di Brera (31,4 km)

User Reviews

Michela Barisonzi (2 years ago)
Stunning castle and amazing gardens. Absolutely worth a visit.
Tatiana Torres (2 years ago)
This was an amazing experience! You should visit and enjoy every single detail
James Kent-Nye (2 years ago)
Absolutely brilliant museum - I got in free for being in my early 20's too. Very interesting mixture of historic architectural, artifact and artistic pieces. Definitely worth a visit, even just to see the castle and it's grounds.
Roxana Meaney (2 years ago)
Just stunning Roman artifacts beautifully displayed. The modern donated art collection was also beautiful. Very impressive
Valerio Meletti (2 years ago)
Great location, a stunningly beautiful castle. The exhibition was finely curated, with a special care for children (our kid was given a free dedicated booklet with interactive activities). Staff is very very kind. Top notch
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The main gallery (completed 1703) and the masterful Colonna art collection was acquired after 1650 by both the cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew the Connestabile Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna and includes works by Lorenzo Monaco, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Palma the Elder, Salviati, Bronzino, Tintoretto, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci (painting of The Beaneater), Guercino, Francesco Albani, Muziano and Guido Reni. Ceiling frescoes by Filippo Gherardi, Giovanni Coli, Sebastiano Ricci, and Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari celebrate the role of Marcantonio II Colonna in the battle of Lepanto (1571). The gallery is open to the public on Saturday mornings.

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Along with the possessions of the Doria-Pamphilij and Pallavacini-Rospigliosi families, this is one of the largest private art collections in Rome.

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