Pavia

The Roman city of Pavia, founded by the Gauls at the crossroads between Emilia and Postumia, between the Po and the Ticino rivers, was an important city in the first century and still retains its fascination in the urban weave of its historic streets. The regular placing of the remaining foundations of the castrum romanum around the ancient forum were incorporated into the widespread enlargement of the city, as between 572 and 774 it was the capital of the Italian kingdom with a well known university (a diploma from Charles IV in 1361 recognised Pavia as a Studium Generale). Around the encircling medieval urban growth, rising over the red tiled roofs are the city's ancient towers and monumental buildings: the Cathedral, the Visconteo Castle, the splendid Romanic churches (S. Pietro in Ciel d'Or, S. Teodoro, S. Michele, S. Francesco), the Broletto. These, with the bridges and the romantic banks of the Ticino form the principle features of this attractive Lombard city.