Description of the attraction
Vigevano is a small town in the province of Pavia in Lombardy, which has preserved a huge number of historical and cultural monuments, and at the same time is an industrial center. It is located in the heart of the area known as Lomellina, a huge rice-growing agricultural center. The city's main tourist attraction is the beautiful Renaissance square, Piazza Ducale.
The first mentions of Vigevano date back to the 10th century, when the town was a hunting residence and a favorite resting place of the Lombard king Arduin. The city then became a Ghibelline commune and was sacked by the Milanese in 1201 and 1275. In the 14th century, Vigevano submitted to the Visconti family, and further divided the history of the Duchy of Milan. In 1445, on the orders of Filippo Maria Visconti, the church of San Pietro Martyre and the adjacent Dominican monastery were built here. After the fall of the Visconti family, the Sforza dynasty came to rule in the city, which turned Vigevano into a bishopric. From this family, the city has preserved the majestic Castello Sforzesco, built in 1492-94 for Lodovico Maria Sforza, who was born here and turned the fortifications of the Visconti into a rich aristocratic residence in the Gothic-Renaissance style. The guests of the castle were Leonardo da Vinci and Bramante. The ancient castle has preserved a unique covered passage, high enough for a rider to pass through it. This passage connects the new palace and the old fortifications. There is also an elegant loggia supported by 48 columns, and behind the donjon is the Ladies Loggia, built for the Duchess Beatrice d'Este.
The main attraction of Vigevano is Piazza Ducale, one of the most beautiful in Italy. It was built by the architect Antonio Filarete in 1492-93 and is distinguished by almost perfect proportions. The square was to become the outer courtyard of the castle of Lodovico Sforza. It is almost entirely surrounded by arcades, which was typical for the new cities of northern Italy in the 13th century. The main street of Vigevano begins here - it begins at the graceful arched facade, reminiscent of the Place des Vosges in Paris. And here there is a baroque cathedral, the construction of which began in 1532 and was completed almost a hundred years later. Inside the cathedral you can see works by Macrino d'Alba, Bernardino Ferrari and a polyptych in the tempera technique of the Da Vinci school.
