www.visitapavia.it | Pavia and Pavese

Giovan Galeazzo Visconti commissioned the construction of the Castle of Pavia, with the Certosa Park, which was to be his home with a private garden and prayer chapel. It transpired to be more of a location where fun and amusement was had rather than a proper castle (even though it had the features to be one such as the angular towers, the dyke and the draw bridge). The castle, built in red brick and marble columns, was built around a four-sided central courtyard. The interior was filled with frescoes although the artists are unknown, even though the name of Pisanello does crop up regarding a room in the north wing which was restored by Bonifacio Bembo in 1456. Unfortunately nothing remains of those frescoes or the antique furnishings as the castle fell into disrepair over the years: in fact for over 400 years from 1535 to 1920 it was used by the military. It was completely restored in 1930 and from 1951 onwards the Castle housed the Civic Museum. The ground floor hosts: the Archaeological Museum – medieval, late-gothic and renaissance; the Malaspina Gallery; the 17th- and 18th-century gallery including works by Magnasco, Malinconico and Tiepolo; paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries including works by Piccio, di Hayez, Faruffini, Zandomeneghi, Segantini, Pellizza da Volpedo. The second floor houses the collection of plaster casts, modern sculptures in plaster, bronze and marble; the Renaissance Museum with stamps, uniforms, medals, weapons, memorabilia from the local Cairoli family and from Giuseppe Garibaldi; the Museum of Luigi Robecchi Bricchetti, with fabrics, weapons, animal skins and jewels from Africa.