Pavia, a city of Northern Italy, on the left bank of the Ticino, 2 miles above its confluence with the Po, and 21 miles by rail S. of Milan. A covered brick bridge (1353) connects the city with the suburb of Ticino, on the right bank of the river. Pavia is still in great part surrounded by walls, and has an imposing appearance; in former times it was called the 'city of a hundred towers.' Its oldest church is the Lombard basilica of San Michele, which, although the date of its foundation is uncertain, is mentioned as early as 661. The early 'kings of Italy' were crowned within its walls; in 1863 it was granted the title of 'royal basilica,' and was restored 1863-76. The cathedral, containing some good paintings, was commenced in 1488, but was never finished. It shelters the tomb of Boëthius (brought from St Peter's) and Roland's lance; and in a beautiful chapel attached to it are the ashes of St Augustine, in a Gothic sarcophagus ornamented with a great number of bas-reliefs and figures. The Certosa, which lies 5 miles north of the city, is described in a separate article. The castle of the Visconti (begun in 1360), a massive square arched structure, once contained valuable collections of MSS., armour, and curiosities, but they were carried away by the French in 1500. The university is said to have been founded by Charlemagne, and was a famous seat of learning during the middle ages; but it was not formally constituted a university until 1361. It is now attended by 1000 students (1800 about 1850), who are taught by sixty teachers. Attached to it are two colleges—Borromeo (1563) and Ghislieri (1569)—for poor students, and a library (1772) of 185,000 vols., anatomical and natural history museums, a botanic garden, a school of the fine arts, &c. There is neither much industry nor much trade. Pop. (1881) 29,836.
Pavia, the ancient Ticinum (afterwards Papia, whence the modern name), was founded by Gallic tribes, and was sacked by Attila (452) and by Odoacer (476); Theodoric selected it as his capital after 489. Later on the Lombards made it their capital, and then it became the chief city of the kingdom of Italy. Through jealousy of Milan it sided with the emperors (1056-1356); it was then conquered by the Visconti, and subsequently shared the fate of Milan. It was sacked by the French in 1500. Here in 1525 the French were defeated by the imperialists, and Francis I. (q.v.) taken prisoner; but in 1527, and again in the following year, the city was taken and laid waste by the French. It was stormed and pillaged by Napoleon in 1796, and came into the possession of Austria by the peace of 1814. Since 1859 it has been included within the kingdom of Italy. Lanfranc and Pope John XIV. were natives.—The province of Pavia (1312 sq. m.) has a pop. of (1889) 513,983.