Dear walkers, once again this year on October 31, I will have the pleasure of accompanying you during the National Urban Trekking Day along a route that is particularly dear to me, which moves from the city center toward the area where I live, rich in surprises and stories to tell.
How was Pavia in the past? How is it today? The route was created with the aim of visiting some significant sites that span a long history up to the present day.
The meeting point is set in front of palazzo Mezzabarba, a symbol of municipal authority, and the route continues down Via Luigi Porta, where two splendid towers, torre San Dalmazio e torre Belcredi, recall Pavia’s nickname as the “città delle 100 torri”, eventually reaching Corso Garibaldi. From there, a walk begins along an important stretch of the Via Francigena where three churches with a unique atmosphere will be encountered: San Primo e Feliciano Martiri, San Luca e di San Lazzaro.
Not to be missed is the church of San Pietro in Verzolo, and naturally there will be talk of the former Snia, which was one of the most important industrial enterprises in Pavia. The church of Santa Maria della Grazie, also known as Santa Teresa, built from 1609 onward, stands out impressively with its red brick in the eponymous district. The walk will include the route passing by what used to be the factory managed by the father of Albert Einstein, the Spanish Walls, the Botanical Garden, the church of Santa Maria alle Cacce. The day will conclude once again in Municipio Square.
Some of these places will be visited from the inside, while others will only be admired from the outside, at the pace of... trekking! Not in a hurry, but retracing the steps still taken today by walkers and pilgrims along this stretch of the Via Francigena.
Below are some additional indications, while we wait to set off with our comfortable shoes and our water bottles!
Indicative information about the route
Estimated time: about 3 hours
Distance: 5/6 km
Difficulty: Low
Starting point: Piazza Municipio (Palazzo Mezzabarba)
Departure time: around 14:30 (Meeting at 14:00)
Samantha Maggi
