www.visitapavia.it | Pavia and Pavese

The city of Pavia dates back to the Roman era under the name of Ticinum. The Longobards conquered the city in 572 and made it the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (Regnum Italicum) under the name of Papia (city of the palace). The Longobards reigned until 774 when the city was invaded and reconquered by Charles the Great. During the Carolingian period they were crowned the Kings of Italy at the San Michele church. Pavia is home to one of Italy’s oldest universities, which dates back to 1361. From the 18th to the 19th century, Pavia was ruled by foreigners: the Spanish, the French and the Austrians had at one point all ruled the city until the invasion by Napoleon in 1796. It passed again under Austrian rule from 1815 to 1859 when it became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia together with Lombardy before becoming part of the Kingdom of Italy.
Pavia boasts many valuable historic and artistic monuments which recount the city’s rich history over the centuries.