Friday, 16 February, 2018
My original plan for the day was to head to Milan by train and then board another train bound for either Turin or Genoa, whichever came first.
Then I changed my mind and opted to drive south for about an hour to the university city of Pavia and its nearby, spectacular, Certosa di Pavia Monastery.
But first in Venegono Superiore . . .
I needed something . . .
. . . to go with my morning café
After much thought, I went with an apple square to the right in the first picture.
Tasty!
I was ready for my first long drive of theEuroBall XII season.
About half way to Pavia
I love the simple but hardy food
served at these Autogrills
A solid lunch consumed, I was ready for the final push to the Monastery.
What tales would this venerable,
old building treat us to if it could?
GREAT Mailbox!
I arrived at the monastery about 25 minutes before it re-opened from the staff's three hour lunch break.
Good union.
I found a small, locals only style café bar open just 100 meters from the monastery's entrance.
It was cold outside, the bar had a warming fire raging in its fireplace, the espresso was good and we had a locals card game going full bore.
Locals in Action
Did he just pull a new card out of his lap?
The things you see
over an espresso . . .
The Certosa di Pavia Monastery's
main entrance
Still about five minutes before opening hour.
Hopping the fence is probably
NOT a good idea
Outside the fence
This was outside the fence too
And definitely not open for business.
The doors opened exactly on time, what were the odds of that happening?
Colorful Entrance Hall . . .
. . . with a painted ceiling of course
The Certosa di Pavia Monastery
It is actually located about 10km north of the city of Pavia.
From Milan, Gian Galeazzo Visconti founded the monastery in 1396 A.D. as a private chapel and mausoleum for the Visconti family.
It was finished over 100 years later in a hybrid of late Gothic and Renaissance styles.
Some "chapel" . . .
Eventually, the Carthusian Order of Monks ran the facility.
He looks wise
"Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet!"
Oversized angels are a good thing
Another wise man
I liked their hats
Cover me, I'M GOING IN!
Oh, My . . .
Impressive everywhere I looked
Stark statues with colorful ceilings
Frescoes are BIG in this "chapel."
So is the color blue
Appealing to my eyes
Spread your wings little one
Egyptian influence?
I see dead people . . .
In the choir room
The monastery's huge cloister
Off with their heads!
Each doorway seen here is the
entry to the monks' quarters
Excellent ornamentation
On to the monastery's museum . . .
The flag of Milan's Sforza Family
BATTLE!
DON'T do whatever this
lad did!
WE'VE GOT A BLEEDER!
More ceiling frescoes
If Peter Pan got old?
Self-Flagellation?
The Prophets Ezekiel and David
How do they do that with their beards?
Gian Galeazzo Visconti
the monastery's founder
It was a good experience
and I got both my Church
and Museum needs satisfied
On to the city of Pavia, population 71,000, founded by the ancient Romans as a military garrison.
The university was founded
in the 14th-century
It is considered to be one of the best in all of Italy.
The three Medieval Towers
are on the university's grounds
Italian born Alessandro Volta was
the inventor of the electric battery
What is this big old building?
Ah, it is Pavia's Duomo
Rules are made to be broken.
I went into my second church of the day.
I liked the fancy pulpit but,
overall, it was quite stark inside
An old Bishop
A nice Holy Water Font
It was time to head home but it was definitely a good day in Italy's Lombardy region!
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