Visconti Park

Visconti Park in Pavia was once the private park of the Visconti and Sforza families, the lords and dukes of Milan. Set in Lombardy in northern Italy, it stretched between Pavia Castle and the Certosa di Pavia monastery, and it was founded in 1360 by Galeazzo II Visconti before being expanded by his son Gian Galeazzo. Today it is best understood as a historic landscape for a short outing and a bit of sightseeing.

• The park’s history is tied directly to the Visconti and Sforza dynasties, so a visit here is also a look at the world of Milan’s medieval and Renaissance rulers.
• Its former layout covered about 2,200 hectares (22 km2), giving an idea of how large this private hunting and leisure area once was.
• The old perimeter was enclosed by walls about 25 kilometres (16 mi) long, and the park’s position between Pavia Castle and the Certosa di Pavia monastery helps place it in a very specific historic setting.

For a visit, it is worth planning a relaxed stop with comfortable shoes and time to take in the historic surroundings. This is a good choice for travelers interested in local history, a quiet walk, and the wider cultural landscape around Pavia.