Vigevano | Italian Medieval and
Renaissance Jewel
Vigevano
is
the second center of the Pavese province located halfway between
Milan and Pavia, a medieval and Renaissance jewell of Italy with a
unique charm.
The city was developed in 963 on the
right bank of the Ticino river boasting a historic center considered
among the best of the Italian peninsula
for its artistic patrimony and urban planning with is main core around the
magnificent Piazza Ducale developed in 1492 the year corresponding
to the end of the Middle Ages at the behest of Ludovico Sforza, known as
il “Moro” born in the city who strongly wanted, apart from the reclamation of
the territories, the creation of the Sforza Farm and the development of
the flourishing wool and linen trade,works of which he was the proponent an
elegant city salon next to the castle.
Vigevano
is historically a center that strongly reflects that chronological transition
between the medieval and the renaissance and it was always ready to unleash the immense
talent of artists who came to the Visconti court from central Italy, first of
all Donato Bramante and Leonardo da Vinci, undisputed masters and
standard-bearers of this style and artistic movement with totally innovative
concepts.
You
can start the visit from the beautiful and stylish Piazza Ducale, a
Renaissance masterpiece included in the list of the most fascinating squares in
Italy, a jewel of urban architecture of the fifteenth century with immense
refinement but also with functionality representing an eclectic fulcrum
connected to various complexes.
Developed
on a rectangular plan, 48.0 meters wide and 138.0 meters long,
magnificent porticoes were built on three sides with arches supported by 84
columns with capitals, while on the fourth side there is a small square in
front of the Cathedral.
The
porticoes originally ended under the imposing Torre del Bramante, a high
tower where originally a staircase leading to the castle was built, later
replaced by a ramp that could also be passed on horseback that connected the
square to the entrance door of the Sforza residence.
That
passage was then eliminated during the works that modeled the new urban design
in the late seventeenth century, which saw the closure of the side where
the Cathedral stands.
You
will then stop in front of the magnificent Cathedral dedicated to Sant'
Ambrogio, built in 1532 on the remains of a fourteenth-century church at
the behest of Duke Francesco Sforza, despite the fact that it was finished
almost a hundred years later and completely renovated in the nineteenth
century.
You
can admire the extraordinary elliptical façade of baroque matrix completed in
1680, works commissioned by the Iberian Bishop Juan Caramunel Lobkovitz
with the intention of eliminating some aesthetic anomalies in the architectural
background.
The
decoration, although appearing typically fifteenth century, was carried out at
the beginning of the 900 in a sort of revival starring the artists Luigi
Bocca and Casimiro Ottone who talentedly reproduced what must have
been the face of the ecclesiastical complex by making a sort of cast of the
past with depictions of noble coats of arms and honorific medallions of famous
personalities of the Duchy of Milan with mythological, allegorical and floral
representations.
Undoubtedly
an eclectic and at the same time illusionistic work, reviving with bright
colors and refined architecture the canons existing during the glories and dawn
of a glorious era.
In
the beautiful interior you will have the
opportunity to appreciate the Museum of the Treasure of the Cathedral
containing beautiful tapestries of Flemish
school and a rich collection of goldsmiths dating back to the sixteenth
century.
Continuation
of your visit with the mperious Torre del Bramante located on an extreme
side of the square at the passage that leads to the Castle, a construction that
was built on a medieval base in the late twelfth century but developed by the
immense genius of Donato Bramante three centuries later, a work that
inspired the construction of the tower of the Sforza Castle in Milan.
Once
you reach its top you will be able to enjoy a wonderful view of the entire
Piazza Ducale from another perspective and fully admire the structural complex
of the Castle and then continuation with the Stables consisting of a
magnificent colonnade with cross vaults works commissioned by Ludovico il Moro.
Very
close you can visit the Falconry which consists of a beautiful building with a
loggia totally modified by the talent of Donato Bramante at the end of the
fifteenth century, created as a domicile for the rapacious faithful companions
of the Dukes during hunting trips in the local woods.
We
will then reach the Covered Road also called "Strada
Sterrata" which partially dates back to 1300 but created in its
complete concepts in the sixteenth century at the desire of the duke Luchino
Visconti,.
It
is a passage conceived as a conduit for escapes without being spotted by the
subjects in case of danger or popular rebellions bypassing the entire village
through a ravelin connecting the male to the old stronghold that immediately
had access to the Vigevano countryside overcoming a difference in height of
over 10.0 meters, 167.0 meters long and about 7.0 meters
wide.
The
road also connects to the Cavallerizza, a wooden building with refined trusses
dating back to the nineteenth century used in the past as a riding school while
in modern times used as a venue for cultural events and demonstrations.
For
the same reasons, as an alternative under the dirt road, the basement was
designed with two passages connected in a strategically designed system leading
to the horsewoman and the moat of the manor's male.
In
a while you will reach the Loggia delle Dame which, as the name
suggests, was a palace dedicated to the ladies hosted at the court of Ludovico
Sforza, another great work by Bramante.
Continuing
your visit you will then entering in a very large courtyard of the Castle built in
the first half of the 1500, although modified in several subsequent periods,
with assumptions that the great Leonardo da Vinci contributed to its execution.
This fortified complex covers about 70,000 square meters with four imposing
quadrangular towers erected in the corners and the keep that occupies three
sides of the fortress, an arrangement ordered by Luchino Visconti.
The
concept of its construction was focused on creating a massive defensive
construction, impregnable and at the same time suitable and functional to
accommodate the guests, giving them the opportunity to move around the complex
easily reaching the different sections of the court.
In
fact, moving to the center you will notice how the Loggia delle Dame is easily
accessible and along the colonnade of the Falconiera access to the stables is
also very easy and once you reach the riding school you can to reach in a while
the other spaces of the complex.
Around Piazza Ducale you can enjoy
picturesque alleys and narrow streets adjacent to the old Sforza walls and
dedicate a visit to the beautiful Church of San Pietro Martire dating
back to the fifteenth century developed in a traditional Gothic style of
Lombard matrix.
Inside you can the crypt that houses the
remains of Blessed Matteo Carreri, a religious figure native of Mantua,
elevated to protector of Vigevano who lived for a long time in the adjacent
convent.
It’s time for your lunch and Vigevano offers
delicious typical plates. Very suggested are Risotto alla Certosina or Meat Ravioli with
Butter and Sage, as second courses you can choose between Beef Stew with Boiled
Potatoes or Roast Goose with Savoy cabbage and do not miss excellent wines from
Oltrepo’ Pavese.
After your lunch you can dedicate time to
visit the very interesting Pietro
Bertolini Civic Museum created in 1958 linked to one of the
flagships of the economy of Vigevano, namely the Footwear Industry, an
exhibition space that illustrate the history of the Vigevano shoemaking masters
from the 19tth century to today. The
visit can end here, Vigevano will certainly remain in your happy memories for
its beauty and charm.
Note : This is a
program that I have planned for years at the tour operator level, I hope that
this itinerary has been useful to have an idea about this fascinating city or
maybe transmitting you the desire to visit it in the future.
Link : https://www.comune.vigevano.pv.it/
