Pavia's old town sits within a clear boundary: the ring of the old walls, now largely replaced by boulevards but still legible in the urban grid. Inside, the streets mostly follow the Roman plan — straight, intersecting at right angles — with the main axis running from the castle in the north to the Ponte Coperto in the south. The arcades that line Corso Strada Nuova make it easy to walk regardless of weather.
The neighbourhood is small enough to cross in 20 minutes, but packed with churches, medieval towers, Renaissance palaces, and university buildings occupying every available block. The evening passeggiata, when students and locals fill the arcaded streets before dinner, is one of the pleasures of being here.