• Art & Culture

Civic Museums of Pavia

Inside the magnificent castle built by Galeazzo Visconti between 1360 and 1365

Where
Viale XI Febbraio, 35, Pavia
Contacts
+39 0382 399770
Official site

D

After World War II, the Visconti Castle became the headquarters of the Civic Museums of Pavia. Located within the rooms of the Visconti Castle, the Civic Museums of Pavia house a vast collection of materials that tell the history of the city, from the Roman era to the 19th century.

The museum consists of the following sections:

  • Archaeological Section
  • Lombard Section
  • Medieval and Renaissance Section
  • Malaspina Art Gallery
  • Wooden Model of the Cathedral Room
  • 17th-18th Century Art Gallery
  • 19th Century Art Gallery and Morone Collection
  • Museum of the Risorgimento
  • Robecchi Bricchetti Museum

THE BATTLE OF PAVIA

The room is dedicated to the famous Battle of Pavia, which marked the fate of modern Europe. It was fought in the park of the Visconti Castle on February 24, 1525, between the troops of Emperor Charles V and those of King Francis I of France.

In addition to admiring several iconographic testimonies related to this important historical event, such as prints and paintings depicting military operations or the involved figures, visitors can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the time through multimedia content - videos and touchscreens - created in 2015 during a highly successful exhibition, which displayed one of the seven tapestries of the Battle of Pavia preserved at the Capodimonte Museum.

During the spring and summer months, beautiful tours are organized to the top of the castle tower, where visitors can admire Pavia from above.


Opening hours

  • MUSEUM ROOMS AND EXHIBITIONS
    Monday to Friday: 14:00 - 18:00 (closed on Tuesdays).
    Group and school bookings for entry between 10:00 - 14:00 can be made by emailing museicivici@comune.pv.it
    Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays: 10:00 - 18:00

    The ticket office closes at 17:30.

    The Library and Photo Archive are closed on national and local holidays, during the second and third weeks of August, and on school holiday closure days during the Christmas period.

    The Civic Museums are closed on December 24, 25, 26, 31, January 1, and August 15.

    For information on open sections, see Notes.

    LIBRARY AND PHOTO ARCHIVE
    By appointment only, by emailing museicivici@comune.pv.it

    Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 09:00 - 13:30
    Tuesday and Thursday: 14:30 - 17:00


Other links

Facebook
Take me here: Civic Museums of Pavia

See also

10 good reasons visit Pavia

  • Art & Culture
Pavia Piazza della Vittoria

Castles Pavia

Towers, walls, ditches .. a journey between fortresses and sumptuous historic houses
  • Art & Culture
Castles Pavia

Monuments Pavia

Ancient squares, historic houses, statues, religious buildings, museums ... in Pavia and its province
  • Art & Culture
Monument Pavia, what to see

Museums Pavia

Masterpieces of art, treasures and centuries-old traditions in the museums of Pavia and surroundings
  • Art & Culture
@wikipedia

A Day in Pavia

When organizing your trip to Lombardy do not forget to visit Pavia
  • Art & Culture
A Day in Pavia

Visconti Castle

At the start of the 20th century, Visconti Castle(PV) was acquired by the local municipality and has since been home to the civic museums
  • Art & Culture
Pavia Castello Visconteo

Certosa di Pavia

The Certosa di Pavia, a monastery built by Gian Galeazzo Visconti as a family chapel, is connected to the castle by the Visconteo Park.
  • Religious Tourism
@inlombardia_ Certosa di Pavia

Archaeology museum and sala longobarda

  • Art & Culture
Archaeology Museum and Sala Longobarda

Ponte Coperto Bridge

  • Art & Culture
Ponte coperto di Pavia (Ph: I Mille)

Pavia University Campus

An ancient and glorious history. Alessandro Volta, Ugo Foscolo, Carlo Rubbia sat on the professorships of the University of Pavia
  • Art & Culture
Statua di Antonio Bordoni, Università di Pavia.

Places

Visconti Castle

At the start of the 20th century, Visconti Castle(PV) was acquired by the local municipality and has since been home to the civic museums
  • Art & Culture
Pavia Castello Visconteo
17 mt

Archaeology museum and sala longobarda

  • Art & Culture
Archaeology Museum and Sala Longobarda
59 mt

Fraschini theatre

  • Art & Culture
Teatro Fraschini Pavia
296 mt

Pavia University Hisotry Museum

  • Art & Culture
Pavia University Hisotry Museum
371 mt

Church of Saint Francesco

The church of Saint Francesco in Pavia shows a clear separation between the Romanesque architecture and the late Gothic
  • Art & Culture
Church of Saint Francesco
371 mt

Basilica di San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro

  • Religious Tourism
Basilica di San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro
400 mt

Aula Magna of the University of Pavia

  • Art & Culture
Aula Magna of the University of Pavia
466 mt

University Library of Pavia

  • Art & Culture
Salone Teresiano
475 mt

Chiesa di S. Maria del Carmine

  • Religious Tourism
S. M. Del Carmine – Pavia
576 mt

Church Of Saint Giovanni Domnarum

  • Art & Culture
Church Of Saint Giovanni Domnarum
632 mt

Palazzo Bottigella Gandini

Hidden among Pavia’s historic buildings is Palazzo Bottigella-Gandini, restored and now a space for contemporary art exhibitions
  • Art & Culture
Pavia
658 mt

The Plane Tree of the Pavia Botanical Garden

  • Active & Green
The Plane Tree of the Pavia Botanical Garden
663 mt

Botanical Gardens Pavia

Un orto storico che si trova nell’attuale sede dagli ultimi decenni del 1700
  • Parks
Botanical Gardens Pavia
663 mt

Camillo Golgi Museum

The museum preserves the historical and scientific heritage of the former Institute of General Pathology of Pavia
  • Art & Culture
Camillo Golgi  Museum
671 mt

Arnaboldi Dome

The Arnaboldi Gallery is a commercial gallery that, in the form of a covered pedestrian street, connects Strada Nuova to Piazza del Lino.
  • Art & Culture
Arnaboldi Dome
685 mt

Palazzo del Broletto

The old town hall of Pavia, which housed the institution until 1875
  • Art & Culture
Palazzo del Broletto
722 mt

Kosmos Natural History Museum

Un museo antico con collezioni scientifiche di altissimo valore, costituito a scopo didattico da Lazzaro Spallanzani nel 1771
  • Art & Culture
Kosmos Natural History Museum
748 mt

Following history’s trails. Who is the Sun King?

  • Art & Culture
Sun King’s equestrian statue, Monuments Pavia
765 mt

The Diocesan Museum of Pavia

  • Art & Culture
The Diocesan Museum of Pavia
786 mt

Cathedral of Pavia

The most impressive church in Pavia to whose design Leonardo Da Vinci contributed
  • Religious Tourism
Cathedral of Pavia
808 mt

Events

The Battle of Pavia, February 24, 1525: the times, the places, the men

Castello Visconteo
Viale XI Febbraio, 35, Pavia
15/02/2025 - 29/12/2025
  • Art & Culture
The Battle of Pavia, February 24, 1525: the times, the places, the men
54 mt

Pavia 1525: the city, the arts, the battle

Castello Visconteo
Viale XI Febbraio, 35, Pavia
18/09/2025 - 11/01/2026
  • Art & Culture
arazzi della battaglia di Pavia
54 mt

Celebrations of the 500th Anniversary of the Battle of Pavia 1525/2025

Castello Visconteo
Pavia
21/02/2025 - 11/01/2026
  • Art & Culture
Celebrations of the 500th Anniversary of the Battle of Pavia 1525/2025
82 mt

Pavia 1525. An epochal battle in a changing world

Università di Pavia e Collegi storici pavesi
Corso Strada Nuova 65 Pavia
07/04/2025 - 09/04/2025
  • Art & Culture
Pavia 1525. An epochal battle in a changing world
364 mt

Milano Sanremo 2025

Strade della provincia di Pavia
Pavia (PV)
21/03/2025 - 22/03/2025
  • Sport
Milano Sanremo 2025
623 mt

The miserable Citade. Pavia besieged 1522-1527

Santa Maria Gualtieri
Piazza della Vittoria, Pavia
12/04/2025 - 28/09/2025
  • Art & Culture
The miserable Citade. Pavia besieged 1522-1527
638 mt

71th INTERNATIONAL RAID PAVIA – VENEZIA 2nd JUNE 2024

Pavia Lungo Ticino Sforza
31/05/2025 - 02/06/2025
  • Sport
71th INTERNATIONAL RAID PAVIA – VENEZIA 2nd JUNE 2024
1.2 km

Where to sleep

CASA ELENA

Pavia
CASA ELENA
146 mt

SALVO CRIFFO'

Pavia
SALVO CRIFFO'
395 mt

LAB42

Pavia
LAB42
482 mt

CASA VACANZE TASSO 47

Pavia
CASA VACANZE TASSO 47
523 mt

CIVICO 1 APARTMENT

Pavia
CIVICO 1 APARTMENT
582 mt

CIVICO 1 DI MF ROOMS

Pavia
CIVICO 1 DI MF ROOMS
582 mt

VITTORIA SUITE

Pavia
VITTORIA SUITE
600 mt

INTERNO 12

Pavia
INTERNO 12
611 mt

CASA ALESSIA

Pavia
CASA ALESSIA
626 mt

GALLERIA ARNABOLDI MAISON D'HOTES

Pavia
GALLERIA ARNABOLDI MAISON D'HOTES
662 mt

Residenziale Il Naviglio

Pavia
Residenziale Il Naviglio
669 mt

CAVOUR 14 DI LIVING RENT SRL

Pavia
CAVOUR 14 DI LIVING RENT SRL
682 mt

CASA CAROLINA

Pavia
CASA CAROLINA
682 mt

CASA LUIGI

Pavia
CASA LUIGI
682 mt

CASA DI MARTA

Pavia
CASA DI MARTA
701 mt

ARNABOLDI PALACE

Pavia
ARNABOLDI PALACE
703 mt

GAFFURIO 4

Pavia
GAFFURIO 4
712 mt

GAFFURIO 3

Pavia
GAFFURIO 3
712 mt

GAFFURIO 1

Pavia
GAFFURIO 1
712 mt

GAFFURIO 5

Pavia
GAFFURIO 5
712 mt