The province of Pavia () is a

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

in the

Lombardy The Lombardy Region (; ) is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in northern Italy and has a population of about 10 million people, constituting more than one-sixth of Italy's population. Lombardy is ...

region of

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. Its capital is

Pavia Pavia ( , ; ; ; ; ) is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, in Northern Italy, south of Milan on the lower Ticino (river), Ticino near its confluence with the Po (river), Po. It has a population of c. 73,086. The city was a major polit ...

. , the province has a population of 548,722 inhabitants and an area of ; the town of Pavia has a population of 72,205.

History

The city Pavia was initially settled by the

Ligures The Ligures or Ligurians were an ancient people after whom Liguria, a region of present-day Northern Italy, north-western Italy, is named. Because of the strong Celts, Celtic influences on their language and culture, they were also known in anti ...

and was later occupied by Gaulish tribes; it was conquered by the Romans in 220 BCE. Named "Ticinum" by the Romans, the town was reinforced and became a key part of their defenses in northern Italy; despite this, the town was sacked by

Attila Attila ( or ; ), frequently called Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in early 453. He was also the leader of an empire consisting of Huns, Ostrogoths, Alans, and Gepids, among others, in Central Europe, C ...

, the ruler of the Hunnic Empire, in 452 CE, and then again by

Odoacer Odoacer ( – 15 March 493 AD), also spelled Odovacer or Odovacar, was a barbarian soldier and statesman from the Middle Danube who deposed the Western Roman child emperor Romulus Augustulus and became the ruler of Italy (476–493). Odoacer' ...

in 476 CE. In the sixth century it was the capital of German tribe the

Lombards The Lombards () or Longobards () were a Germanic peoples, Germanic people who conquered most of the Italian Peninsula between 568 and 774. The medieval Lombard historian Paul the Deacon wrote in the ''History of the Lombards'' (written betwee ...

and survived an attempted Frankish invasion. However, following the death of Charlemagne, the Lombard territory became part of Frankish territory. In the 12th century, it became a commune after Frankish rule ceased, and

Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa (December 1122 – 10 June 1190), also known as Frederick I (; ), was the Holy Roman Emperor from 1155 until his death in 1190. He was elected King of Germany in Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt on 4 March 1152 and crowned in Aa ...

fortified areas of the commune and he was crowned in Pavia in 1155. The

University of Pavia The University of Pavia (, UNIPV or ''Università di Pavia''; ) is a university located in Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. There was evidence of teaching as early as 1361, making it one of the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest un ...

was founded in 1361. Starting from 1359, Pavia and its neighbourhood were owned by the Visconti and then the

Sforza The House of Sforza () was a ruling family of Renaissance Italy, based in Milan. Sforza rule began with the family's acquisition of the Duchy of Milan following the extinction of the Visconti of Milan, Visconti family in the mid-15th century and ...

of Milan, until, in 1499, the

Duchy of Milan The Duchy of Milan (; ) was a state in Northern Italy, created in 1395 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, then the lord of Milan, and a member of the important Visconti of Milan, Visconti family, which had been ruling the city since 1277. At that time, ...

became a Spanish possession. It was the scene of a Franco-Imperial battle in 1525, in which

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (as Charles I) from 1516 to 1556, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy (as Charles II) ...

defeated

Francis I of France Francis I (; ; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547) was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin once removed and father-in-law Louis&nbs ...

. In 1707 and again 1774, parts of the so-called "principality of Pavia", a province of the Duchy under the Spaniards, were sold to

Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...

; these changes were restored after the collapse of the French Empire in 1814.

Geography

The Province of Pavia is in the region of Lombardy in northwestern Italy. It is bounded to the north by the provinces of

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

and Lodi, to the southeast by the

Province of Piacenza The province of Piacenza () is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its provincial capital is the city Piacenza. As of 2016, it has a total population of 286,572 inhabitants over an area of , giving it a population density of 111.38 ...

(

Emilia-Romagna Emilia-Romagna (, , both , ; or ; ) is an Regions of Italy, administrative region of northern Italy, comprising the historical regions of Emilia (region), Emilia and Romagna. Its capital is Bologna. It has an area of , and a population of 4.4 m ...

), and to the southwest it is bounded by the

Province of Alessandria The province of Alessandria (; ; in Piedmontese of Alessandria: ''provinsa ëd Lissändria'') is an Italian Provinces of Italy, province, with a population of some 425,000, which forms the southeastern part of the region of Piedmont. The prov ...

(

). The province is crossed by the rivers

Ticino Ticino ( ), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino, is one of the Canton of Switzerland, 26 cantons forming the Switzerland, Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eight districts ...

and Po, which meet four kilometres south of the capital,

. The province contains 190 communes and the River Po is navigable up to its confluence with the Ticino. There are three regions of the province, the Pavese, which is entirely in the Po Valley, the

Lomellina The Lomellina ( or ) is a geographical and historical area in the Po Valley of northern Italy, located in south-western Lombardy between the Sesia, Po and Ticino rivers. It is one of three areal divisions of the Province of Pavia.

, which is also completely in the Po Valley but between the Ticino and the Po, and Oltrepò, to the south of the Po and which includes Monte Lesima (1,724 m (5,656 ft)), a mountain in the

Apennine Mountains The Apennines or Apennine Mountains ( ; or Ἀπέννινον ὄρος; or – a singular with plural meaning; )Latin ''Apenninus'' (Greek or ) has the form of an adjective, which would be segmented ''Apenn-inus'', often used with nouns s ...

which is the highest point in the province. The territory of Siccomario, at the confluence of the two great rivers, should properly be included in Lomellina, but for historical reasons it is considered part of Pavese. Another large river flowing through the province is the Olona. The province is mostly flat with the northwestern part of the province being good agricultural land. The southern part rises to low hills which give way to the Ligurian Apennines. The town of Pavia has a major position in northern Italy's textile industry and is renowned for hatmaking. It also plays its part in the country's engineering and metallurgical industries. This is an important winemaking district and produces sparkling wines. It is the largest area in Italy for the production of

Pinot noir Pinot noir (), also known as Pinot nero, is a red-wine grape variety of the species ''Vitis vinifera''. The name also refers to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French language, French words fo ...

Municipalities

The list below shows the most populated ''

comuni A (; : , ) is an administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions () and provinces (). The can also have the City status in Italy, titl ...

'' (municipalities) of the province in 2010: Here is a list of the most populated municipalities of the province. Certosa di Pavia - facciata -

The full list is: * Alagna * Albonese * Albuzzano * Arena Po * Badia Pavese * Bagnaria * Barbianello *

Bascapè Bascapè is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about southeast of Milan and about northeast of Pavia. Bascapè borders the following municipalities: Carpiano, Casaletto Lodigiano, Casell ...

* Bastida Pancarana * Battuda * Belgioioso * Bereguardo * Borgarello *

Borgo Priolo Borgo Priolo is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 60 km south of Milan and about 25 km south of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,399 and an area of 29 ...

* Borgo San Siro *

Borgoratto Mormorolo Borgoratto Mormorolo is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 60 km south of Milan and about 30 km south of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 415 and an area ...

* Bornasco * Bosnasco * Brallo di Pregola *

Breme Breme () is a (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about southwest of Milan and about west of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 889 and an area of .All demographics and other stat ...

* Bressana Bottarone *

Broni Broni is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italy, Italian region Lombardy, located about 45 km south of Milan and about 15 km southeast of Pavia. Broni borders the following municipalities: Albaredo Arnaboldi, B ...

Calvignano Calvignano is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 50 km south of Milan and about 20 km south of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 112 and an area of 6.9& ...

* Campospinoso Albaredo *

Candia Lomellina Candia Lomellina is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about southwest of Milan and about west of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,639 and an area of .All demograph ...

* Canneto Pavese * Carbonara al Ticino * Casanova Lonati * Casatisma * Casei Gerola * Casorate Primo * Cassolnovo * Castana * Casteggio * Castelletto di Branduzzo * Castello d'Agogna * Castelnovetto * Cava Manara * Cecima * Ceranova * Ceretto Lomellina * Cergnago *

Certosa di Pavia The Certosa di Pavia is a monastery complex in Lombardy, Northern Italy, situated near a small village of the same name in the Province of Pavia, north of Pavia. Built from 1396 to 1495, it was once located at the end of the Visconti Park a l ...

* Cervesina * Chignolo Po * Cigognola * Cilavegna * Codevilla * Colli Verdi * Confienza * Copiano * Corana * Cornale e Bastida * Corteolona e Genzone * Corvino San Quirico * Costa de' Nobili * Cozzo * Cura Carpignano * Dorno * Ferrera Erbognone * Filighera * Fortunago * Frascarolo * Galliavola * Gambarana * Gambolò * Garlasco * Gerenzago * Giussago * Godiasco * Golferenzo * Gravellona Lomellina * Gropello Cairoli * Inverno e Monteleone * Landriano * Langosco * Lardirago * Linarolo * Lirio * Lomello * Lungavilla * Magherno * Marcignago * Marzano * Mede *

Menconico Menconico is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 70 km south of Milan and about 45 km south of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 465 and an area of 28.2&nb ...

* Mezzana Bigli * Mezzana Rabattone * Mezzanino * Miradolo Terme *

Montalto Pavese Montalto Pavese is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italy, Italian region Lombardy, located about 50 km south of Milan and about 25 km south of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 941 and an ar ...

* Montebello della Battaglia *

Montecalvo Versiggia Montecalvo Versiggia is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about south of Milan and about southeast of Pavia. Montecalvo Versiggia borders the following municipalities: Canevino, Golf ...

* Montescano * Montesegale * Monticelli Pavese * Montù Beccaria *

Mornico Losana Mornico Losana ''(Murnigh in Oltrepò dialect)'' is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 50 km south of Milan and about 20km south of Pavia. As of 31 December 2020, it had a populati ...

* Mortara * Nicorvo * Olevano di Lomellina *

Oliva Gessi Oliva Gessi is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about south of Milan and about south of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 196 and an area of .All demographics and ...

* Ottobiano * Palestro * Pancarana * Parona *

Pietra de' Giorgi Pietra de' Giorgi is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, about 45 km south of Milan and about 15 km southeast of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 857 and an area of 1 ...

* Pieve Albignola * Pieve Porto Morone * Pieve del Cairo * Pinarolo Po * Pizzale * Ponte Nizza * Portalbera * Rea * Redavalle * Retorbido * Rivanazzano Terme * Robbio * Robecco Pavese * Rocca Susella *

Rocca de' Giorgi Rocca de' Giorgi is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 60 km south of Milan and about 25 km southeast of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 91 and an are ...

* Rognano *

Romagnese Romagnese is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 70 km south of Milan and about 40 km southeast of Pavia. Romagnese borders the following municipalities: Alta Val Tidone, Bo ...

* Roncaro * Rosasco * Rovescala * San Cipriano Po * San Damiano al Colle * San Genesio ed Uniti * San Giorgio di Lomellina * San Martino Siccomario * San Zenone al Po * Sannazzaro de' Burgondi *

Sant'Alessio con Vialone Sant'Alessio con Vialone is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 30 km south of Milan and about 9 km northeast of Pavia Pavia ( , ; ; ; ; ) is a town and comune of south-w ...

* Sant'Angelo Lomellina * Santa Cristina e Bissone *

Santa Giuletta Santa Giuletta is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italy, Italian region Lombardy, located about 50 km south of Milan and about 15 km south of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,605 and an a ...

* Santa Margherita di Staffora * Santa Maria della Versa * Sartirana Lomellina * Scaldasole * Semiana * Silvano Pietra *

Siziano Siziano is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 15 km south of Milan and about 15 km north of Pavia. Siziano borders the following municipalities: Bornasco, Carpiano, Lacchi ...

* Sommo * Spessa * Stradella * Suardi * Torrazza Coste * Torre Beretti e Castellaro * Torre d'Arese * Torre d'Isola * Torre de' Negri *

Torrevecchia Pia Torrevecchia Pia is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 25 km southeast of Milan and about 15 km northeast of Pavia. Torrevecchia Pia borders the following municipalities: Ba ...

* Torricella Verzate * Travacò Siccomario * Trivolzio * Tromello *

Trovo Trovo ( Lombard: ''Tröv'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region of Lombardy, about southwest of Milan and northwest of Pavia Pavia ( , ; ; ; ; ) is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, in Nor ...

* Val di Nizza * Valeggio * Valle Lomellina * Valle Salimbene *

Varzi Varzi is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 70 km south of Milan and about 40 km south of Pavia. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of I ...

* Velezzo Lomellina * Vellezzo Bellini * Verretto * Verrua Po * Vidigulfo *

Vigevano Vigevano (; ) is a (municipality) in the province of Pavia, in the Italian region of Lombardy. A historic art town, it is also renowned for shoemaking and is one of the main centres of Lomellina, a rice-growing agricultural district. Vigevano ...

* Villa Biscossi *

Villanova d'Ardenghi Villanova d'Ardenghi is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italy, Italian region Lombardy, located about 35 km southwest of Milan and about 9 km west of Pavia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 711 an ...

* Villanterio * Vistarino *

Voghera image:Voghera Castle.jpg, The Castle of Voghera in a 19th-century etching. Voghera (Emilian dialect, Vogherese dialect of Emilian: ''Vughera''; Latin language, Latin: ''Forum Iulii Iriensium'') is a town and ''comune'' in the Province of Pavia i ...

* Volpara *

Zavattarello Zavattarello is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 70 km south of Milan and about 35 km south of Pavia. Zavattarello borders the following municipalities: Alta Val Tidone, ...

* Zeccone * Zeme * Zenevredo * Zerbo * Zerbolò *

Zinasco Zinasco is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Pavia in the Regions of Italy, Italian region Lombardy, located about 40 km south of Milan and about 10 km southwest of Pavia in the Lomellina. It is formed by two villages, Zinasc ...

Territories

The province is mainly divided into 3 geographical regions:

Transport

Motorways

* Autostrada A7:

Genoa Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...

* Autostrada A21:

Turin Turin ( , ; ; , then ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is main ...

Brescia Brescia (, ; ; or ; ) is a city and (municipality) in the region of Lombardy, in Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Lake Garda, Garda and Lake Iseo, Iseo. With a population of 199,949, it is the se ...

Railway lines

* Alessandria–Piacenza railway * Milan–Genoa railway * Pavia–Stradella railway * Vercelli–Pavia railway * Pavia–Alessandria railway * Mortara–Milan railway

References

External links

Province of Pavia official website

Oltrepò Pavese Touristic site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Province Of Pavia