The richest marble façade in Lombardy
A few kilometres north of Pavia, in the countryside once part of the Visconti hunting park, the Certosa di Pavia is one of the most magnificent monasteries in Italy. It was founded in 1396 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan, as a family mausoleum and given to the Carthusian monks; the works lasted about two centuries, which is why it combines late Gothic and Renaissance.
Its façade is a triumph of the Lombard Renaissance: a dense lacework of polychrome marble with statues, medallions, reliefs of biblical scenes and Roman emperors, by sculptors such as Giovanni Antonio Amadeo and the Mantegazza brothers. The church interior holds the tombs of Gian Galeazzo Visconti and, above all, of Ludovico il Moro and Beatrice d'Este, with their marble effigies by Cristoforo Solari, works by Bergognone and Perugino, and an inlaid choir. From the small cloister, with terracotta decorations, you see the side of the church; the great cloister is surrounded by 24 small houses with gardens, the cells of the monks, one of which can be visited.
Tip: the Certosa is still home to a monastic community (now Cistercian) and is closed on Mondays; the monks sell liqueurs and honey.
Where it is
More things to see in Lombardy
Where to stay near Certosa di Pavia
Tours and activities nearby
Offers from GetYourGuide. Some links are affiliate links: if you book we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.