Trovo
Discovering the Certosa di Pavia
Welcome to the Certosa di Pavia! This historical monumental complex was built at the end of the 14th century by the wishes of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, lord of Milan, as a burial mausoleum for the Milanese dynasty and as a place of prayer for the religious community. The Certosa is located in the municipality of Certosa di Pavia, about eight kilometers north of Pavia.
History
Construction of the Certosa di Pavia began in 1396 and took about 50 years to complete. The Certosa has various architectural styles, from late Italian Gothic architecture to Renaissance architecture. During its construction, several master craftsmen of the time were involved, such as Bernardo da Venezia, Giovanni Solari and his son Guiniforte Solari, Giovanni Antonio Amadeo, Cristoforo Lombardo and others. Originally, the Certosa was managed by the certosino order community, then by the cistercian order community and, for a brief period, also by the benedictine order community.
After the unification of Italy in 1861, the Certosa was declared an Italian national monument and acquired by the public property Demanio, along with all the artistic and ecclesiastical assets contained within it. Since 1968, it has been home to a small cistercian monastic community.
What to see at the Certosa
The Certosa di Pavia is a place rich in history and art. In the monumental complex, you can visit the monastery and the sanctuary, but also other buildings that house the Certosa di Pavia Museum and the local Carabinieri station.
The monastery is a place of prayer and contemplation. You can visit the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which has a Latin cross plan with a central nave and two side aisles. The church boasts numerous artistic masterpieces, including the wooden choir carved by Giuseppe Meda, a rare example of a choir with wooden panels still intact, the Chapel of San Michele, decorated with frescoes by Daniele Crespi, and the cloister, a large rectangular courtyard surrounded by arches.
The sanctuary is another important place in the Certosa. It is a chapel dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie, located outside the monastery, where you can admire numerous works of art, including a fresco of the Assumption by Callisto Piazza and a wooden crucifix from the 15th century.
The Certosa Museum allows us to better understand the history and art of the Certosa di Pavia. Here, you can visit several rooms dedicated to the history of the monastery and the Visconti dynasty, as well as to the artistic collections of the Certosa. Among the works on display are paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and liturgical objects.
The Certosa today
Today, the Certosa di Pavia continues to be a place of historical and cultural importance for the city and for Italy. It still houses a religious community, which lives according to the rules of the cistercian order. In addition, numerous visitors come every year to visit this extraordinary monumental complex.
The Certosa di Pavia is a place that allows us to discover the beauty and grandeur of art and architecture from the past. It is also a place that allows us to reflect on spirituality and faith, thanks to the presence of the religious community living in the monastery. If you are in Pavia or nearby, do not hesitate to visit the Certosa and discover its history and wonders!
