Duomo di Pavia

One of Italy's largest domed cathedrals, 400 years in the making

The Duomo occupies a commanding position in the centre of the old city. Its massive dome dominates the rooftop view of Pavia and the interior is vast and cool — a Renaissance space of great clarity, with little clutter. The scale is surprising for a secondary Lombard city, a reminder that Pavia was long a serious rival to Milan.

Adjacent to the cathedral, a section of the old Lombard royal palace remains partially visible. The Civic Tower, which stood next to the cathedral for centuries, collapsed unexpectedly in 1989 — a reminder that medieval monuments require constant attention. The ruins are left as found.

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Pavia Cathedral has one of the largest domes in Italy — third only to St Peter's and the Florence Duomo. Construction began in 1488, with Bramante contributing to the design, and the building was not finished until the 20th century. For most of its history the facade remained bare brick; the marble cladding was only completed in 1933.

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