Monday May 22, 2023
Today is one of those days that we throw in every once in a while. Not a ton of things to do and probably could have moved on from Pavia. The easy tour day allows us to catch up on rest and travel chores, as well as enjoy a city at a much slower pace. Breakfast is made and served in our room by none other than me. I know you all were thinking Carol, but once in a while I need to chip in and show appreciation by letting her relax and be cooked for and served. This is one of those days. Usually I spend my time planning our day, mapping out a route, etc. so due to the light schedule, it allows me to spoil my wife a bit.
We start walking around 1000 and head over to the far reaches of the old town. On the way, we get a nice shot of the third largest dome in Italy and also the reflection of another bridge in the Ticino River. We also peak inside the small chapel to see a Saint holding what looks like a kalashnikov rifle but is in fact a crucifixion cross with Jesus on it. We are searching for the Basilica di San Pietro in Ciel D’oro. And search we do. We find our way close and even catch a glimpse of what we think is the church. We follow a road which climbs and never allows a way into the area where the church should be. After completing about 270 degrees, we come to a parking lot and a path at the end of it which may get us close. Something is going on as we see ladies with roses walking around and start to see stands selling food and flowers. We see a church and there is a line going into it. As I enter, Carol gets nervous and bails on me but does not tell me. I walk along a side aisle and notice she is gone. I wait and no sign of her, so I end up swimming upstream in a sea of downstream parishioners.
I find Carol outside and we have a little tiff about it. She thinks it is a funeral and does not want to go. I think it is something else and want to see what. I also was interested in this church as it contains the tomb of St Augustine. St Augustine, wise man that he was made one of favorite quotes, which is “the world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page”. Well, I am trying to read the book. Finally and reluctantly, Carol comes with me and we go in with the procession of people. It is not some funeral but a blessing ceremony of sorts. It is celebrating St Augustine and you bring a rose in and they bless it by a statue of the saint and return it to you. Very Interesting. I do manage to see the tomb of St Augustine but not much else in the church as it is not open due to the procession.
After the church, we head toward the Castello Visconteo. This was built in 1360 as a residence for the Visconti noble family. More than 500 people worked day and night on the castle and were so efficient that it was completed in only 5 years. For 150 years the castle was inhabited by the Visconti and Sforza families and was visited by Italian and foreign lords who enjoyed hunting in the nearby park. Today, it houses use us but we were not that interested in them so we just tour the exterior.
We finish our day by walking around and enjoying the streets of Pavia. We walk to San Francesco Church which is closed but has another nice brick facade. We stroll through the university and also by Piazza di Leonardo da Vinci, where three of the best preserved towers of the town still stand. On our way home we find the local grocery store and buy some items for dinner tonight and some pastries. We cook in just happy to have a slow meandering day and to recharge our batteries. Tomorrow will be our last town in the Lombardy region before we head into the Lake District of Italy.
Expenses Dinner and Pastries from Pam Market 5.09E Apartment BNB Cube 90E Walked 5.4
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