The Certosa di Pavia is a grand complex designed around the 14th century by Bernardo da Venezia under the orders of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan. It comprises a sanctuary, a monastery and the Certosa Museum. The site was built in the municipality of Certosa di Pavia, which sits along the Naviglio Pavese canal, to fulfil a vow that Caterina Visconti, wife of Galeazzo, had made to the Virgin Mary on 8 January 1390.
The Duchess had lost her firstborn during childbirth and had promised the Virgin Mary that she would dedicate a sanctuary to her if she succeeded in giving birth to other children. Beyond being a votive offering, the Certosa di Pavia was also intended to serve as a celebration of the Visconti family and as a burial mausoleum for the noble dynasty.
Construction of the complex continued for more than fifty years, and upon viewing it you can see how the building is a blend of styles resulting from the work of various artists of the period, such as Bernardo da Venezia, Giovanni Solari and his son Guiniforte, Giovanni Antonio Amadeo, Cristoforo Lombardo and others.
Construction of the Certosa began in 1396 to designs by Bernardo da Venezia and Cristoforo da Conigo, who oversaw the work until the death of Duke Gian Galeazzo in 1402. Following the Duke’s death, work stopped, then resumed first under Filippo Maria Visconti and later under the Sforza family. This is why the complex features such varied architectural styles.
Externally, the church’s façade is constructed in Carrara marble and is richly decorated in the Lombardian Renaissance style. Some of the minor ornaments, however, were executed in Candoglia marble and Egyptian red porphyry, most likely salvaged from other ancient structures. Internally, the church has a Latin cross floor plan divided into three naves with an apse, transept, 14 side chapels and a presbytery where the high altar is located, though it is not used for ordinary religious services.
Among the most important works housed here is the monumental triptych by Baldassarre degli Embriachi, crafted in ivory and commissioned by Gian Galeazzo Visconti. This once stood above the high altar but is now preserved in the Old Sacristy and is considered the site’s oldest sculptural work. Be sure to visit the magnificent mausoleum of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, designed by Gian Cristoforo Romano, which features carved scenes from the Duke’s life whilst his sepulchre is protected by statues representing Fame and Victory.
The 14 side chapels of the Church house frescoes and artworks created by important artists of the period, such as Federico Bianchi, Pietro Perugino and Giovan Battista Carlone. The transept, meanwhile, displays statues of the Duke of Milan Ludovico il Moro and his wife Beatrice d’Este, created by sculptor Cristoforo Solari known as il Gobbo, though it should be noted that Ludovico and Beatrice were not buried here.
Over time, the Certosa monastery in Pavia underwent various administrations and was even devastated by Napoleonic troops who stole numerous precious works housed within it. Over the centuries, management has primarily alternated between the Carthusian order and the Carmelites, whilst since the 1960s it has been administered by Cistercian monks from the Priory of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Certosa Ticinese.
From the church, you can easily reach the small cloister, which centuries ago was where the monks conducted much of their communal life and where a lavabo from the 15th century can still be found. From here, it was quick and convenient for the monks to access other areas of the monastery such as the refectory, library, infirmary and chapter house. The large cloister, meanwhile, is divided into 123 arcades and houses the monks’ cells spread across two storeys, a guest wing for visitors and other service areas.
The monastery was once decorated with paintings created by Vincenzo Foppa, which have since been lost, though the columns of the arcades decorated with roundels and statues of saints, prophets and angels carved in white marble and Verona pink marble have survived to the present day.
The Certosa complex once included a summer residence of the Visconti (later passing to the Sforza) known as the Palazzo Ducale. Over time, the building was first converted into a guest wing to accommodate monastery visitors, and has now been transformed into a museum.
Inside are works that once furnished the complex, including a plaster cast collection housing over 200 casts and some important sculptures such as the Lamentation of Christ by Antonio della Porta. You can admire works by renowned artists of the 15th and 16th centuries such as Bramantino’s “Ecce Homo”, Bernardino Luini’s “St Martin” and “St Ambrose” and an altarpiece by Bartolomeo Montagna. An entire room, meanwhile, houses numerous portraits of Gian Galeazzo, his wife Caterina and other members of the Visconti family.
The Certosa di Pavia is easily accessible both by car and public transport from Milan and Pavia. Those travelling by car from Milan should first take the A7 motorway and then the SPexSS35 (former Provincial Road 35 dei Giovi) towards the Certosa di Pavia, where you’ll find several car parks and camper rest areas.
The Certosa is also very close to the local railway station, making it possible to use connections to cities such as Milan and Pavia, which are served by both FS regional trains and trains run by the Trenord railway company. Between the station and the Certosa there is a cycle path and pedestrian walkway connecting the two places in less than 10 minutes. The Certosa di Pavia can also be reached by bus from Pavia (Via Trieste, opposite the railway station) and from Milan (Viale Famagosta).
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