Experience the best of Pavia

Pavia sits on the left bank of the Ticino, a few kilometres above its meeting with the Po, and from the sixth century was the capital of the Lombard kingdom. Brick towers, a large domed cathedral and the Visconti castle recall its past, while the Ponte Coperto, a covered bridge rebuilt after wartime bombing, crosses the river on the old route into town.

The university, among the oldest in Italy, traces its teaching to the Middle Ages and gives the old centre its student life. The Romanesque basilica of San Michele, with fine carved stonework, was a coronation church, and San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro is said to hold the tomb of St Augustine. The Certosa di Pavia, a monastery with a richly carved marble façade, lies north of the city, with the rice fields of the Lomellina to the west.

Pavia cooks with rice from the nearby paddies, in risotto and in zuppa alla pavese, a broth with fried bread and an egg, and torta paradiso is the local sponge cake. Wines from the Oltrepò hills accompany meals. Fog is common in winter and summers are warm, which makes the city most pleasant on mild days in spring and autumn.