← Milan Marathon·Day trip

Pavia and the Certosa: A Flat Day on the Ticino

A flat university town on the Ticino with a covered bridge, and a Renaissance monastery a short ride to the north.

DurationDay trip
TransitRegional train from Milan to Pavia, about 25 to 40 minutes depending on the service, then a bus or taxi to the Certosa
DepartsMilano Centrale

After the Milan Marathon: Pavia and the Certosa

The Route: Milano → Pavia → Certosa di Pavia → Pavia → Milano Logistics: A regional train to Pavia, then a bus or taxi for the 8 km to the Certosa. Pavia is flat and compact. Marathon Month: April Duration: Day trip

Milano ──(25-40 mins regional train)──> Pavia ──(bus or taxi, about 8 km)──> Certosa di Pavia
   ▲                                                                              │
   └──────────────────────(same route back via Pavia)──────────────────────────┘

The Monday after a Sunday marathon is a poor day to pick a monument in Italy, because many close on Mondays. Check the opening days of the Certosa and the castle before you commit to this trip, and if the monastery is closed, do the same trip on Tuesday. The train times and fares are at trenitalia.com and trenord.it; the journey depends on the service, so check which train you are on.

April in Pavia: the town sits on the Po plain, so the air can be damp and misty in the morning, with a mild afternoon. The river is high in spring. Bring a layer.

The Certosa

The Certosa di Pavia is a monastery founded in 1396 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, as a family mausoleum. Work continued for a century, so the church mixes Gothic structure with a Renaissance marble front, and the façade is the reason to come. The courtyards and cloisters are flat and paved. Visits are usually on a guided tour; check the current terms and entry fees on the monastery's website. The monastery is about 8 km north of Pavia, so use a bus or a taxi rather than walking.

Pavia on foot

The old town is level, with a grid of streets between the Visconti Castle and the Ticino. The university, founded in 1361, fills the middle of the town, and its courtyards are some of the nicest places to sit. The covered bridge, the Ponte Coperto, was rebuilt in 1949 after wartime damage and leads across the river to the quieter bank. The Castello Visconteo, begun in the 1360s, houses a civic museum; check its opening days. Lunch should be risotto, a local speciality in a rice province.

Going back

Trains from Pavia to Milan run all day, and the last services leave late in the evening. Check the timetable before you set out.