The Visconti Castle in Pavia is one of the city’s most important and famous monuments. Built between the 14th and 15th centuries, the castle was commissioned by the Visconti family as a defensive fortress against the enemies of Milan.The castle is located in the historic center of Pavia, near the main square and the cathedral. It looks like a large square-shaped structure with four towers at the corners and an inner courtyard. The facade features battlements, ogival windows, and a large entrance door.The architecture of the Visconti Castle of Pavia is typical of the Gothic period, with elements of Renaissance and Baroque styles. The exterior facade is characterized by battlements, circular towers, and a large ogival-arched entrance door.Inside the castle there is access to the central courtyard, where one can admire the staircase of honor, with a fresco decoration attributed to Bernardino Luini. On the second floor are the castle’s historic rooms, decorated with frescoes and stuccoes from different periods, which testify to the artistic and cultural evolution of the area.Among the most important rooms are the Hall of Coats of Arms, the Hall of Justice, the Hall of Arms, and the Hall of the Fireplace. In the latter is a large marble fireplace, surmounted by a painting by Francesco Bassano the Younger, depicting a hunting scene.The Pavia Civic Museum, housed inside the castle, consists of several sections that tell the history and culture of the city and the region. Among the most important works on display are Antonio da Pavia’s Madonna del Carmine, Francesco Hayez’s Portrait of Bianca Maria Visconti, and Pandolfo Malatesta’s precious Vaso, an example of Byzantine mosaic art.The Visconti Castle in Pavia is thus a place of great historical and artistic interest, which is an essential stop for those visiting the city.
