Borgarello
The Certosa di Pavia: a Pearl of Lombardy
Hello everyone! Today I'll talk to you about the Certosa di Pavia, a treasure in the province of Pavia in Lombardy. The Certosa is renowned for the Carthusian monastery, the Certosa di Pavia or Monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie GRA-CAR, founded in 1396 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti. The town takes its name from the monastery and has a population of 5448 inhabitants.
In the Past
The history of this place goes back to ancient times. The first tribes to settle in the Po Valley were the Liguri and the Umbri, who pioneeringly cultivated the few fertile areas of the region. With the arrival of the Etruscans, works of canalization and drainage were carried out in order to contain the Po River. During Roman times, the lands were divided according to the method of centuriation, so that each plot had a constant and regular surface. This gave rise to a network of parallel roads, including the one that still connects Milan to Pavia.
In the Middle Ages, the lands were divided into the first large estates. In 1100, the powerful Municipality of Borgarello built a square castle in the community of Torre del Mangano. The expression "in Burgari" derives from the noun "burgaria", which means heathland and describes the condition of the territory at that time. The fort was sold in 1397 to the Carthusian monks.
Gian Galeazzo Visconti and the Certosa di Pavia
In 1359, Galeazzo II Visconti conquered Pavia and gave birth to the construction of the Visconteo Castle and the attached Visconteo Park. The territory on which the Certosa stands was included in the wall enclosure.
1396 is the year of the foundation of the Certosa di Pavia together with the consecration in 1497. The monastery constituted a cultural and also economic wealth for the territory. Thanks to the Carthusian monks, agricultural productivity improved considerably thanks to the use of marl, which allowed more than one grass cut per year, and "conserves", underground places filled with ice to preserve food.
What to See at the Certosa di Pavia
Although the monastery has always been at the center of the life of the town, there is much more to discover in the region. In particular, the Visconteo Park and the Visconteo Castle represent two very interesting tourist attractions. The castle, which had the function of guarding the immense treasures accumulated by the powerful Visconti kingdom, still presents itself today in what was its maximum medieval splendor and the view from the top of the tower is priceless. The park, on which the Certosa stands, instead represents the ideal proposal of close proximity to the city and the Certosa.
Conclusions
Given the fascinating aspects and the cultural wealth of the Certosa di Pavia, it is easy to understand how this site is one of the gems of Lombardy. Visiting it is a journey through the history and culture of an extraordinary territory. We are sure that if you decide to take a leap into the beautiful and fascinating Certosa di Pavia, you will come out amazed.
