Attractions and Places To See around Valle Salimbene - Top 20

The Naviglio Pavese connects Milan to Pavia for 33.1 km and ends with its confluence into the Ticino river near Pavia, where the last hydraulic regulation lock (chiusa) is located. Main features Route and length: The canal is 33.1 km long and connects the Darsena in Milan to the dock/confluence of the Ticino in Pavia. Elevation gain and locks: The total elevation difference between Milan and the Ticino is 56.6 meters, overcome by twelve locks and the inclination of the bed. History: The works for the final completion were commissioned by Napoleon and finished in 1819, with the official inauguration on August 16, 1819, by Archduke Ranieri. Historical navigation: As early as 1820, the first steamships operated at the confluence with the Ticino, connecting Milan to the Po and the Adriatic.

The Monument to the Washerwoman is a famous bronze sculpture located in Pavia, positioned on the riverbank in the characteristic Borgo Ticino district. The work is located at the entrance of Via Milazzo, immediately to the left after crossing the famous Ponte Coperto.

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Novello (also known as Santuario del Novello) is a fascinating religious building located in Travacò Siccomario, in the province of Pavia. This small country church stands in a suggestive and isolated position within the floodplain area, just a few steps from the main left bank of the Po River. Origins: The original structure dates back to the late 1500s (or early 1600s according to some local sources). It was commissioned by the Bonacossa family and built over a previous country oratory, of which it still preserves the original fresco of the Madonna inside. Protection from floods: According to popular tradition, the building was erected at that precise spot to invoke divine protection against floods.

A memorial to the laundresses. Thanks to Willem VS for his excellent descriptions!

This imposing brick castle was built between 1360 and 1365 by order of Galeazzo Visconti and served as a fortification and residence. The north wing of the castle was destroyed at the battle of Pavia (1525) between the French and the Spanish. Petrarch loved the building and assembled a rich library there, which later moved to France. The large courtyard has arcades and an ornate loggia with twin windows.

According to legend, some pilgrims wanted to attend midnight mass in the city on Christmas Eve in 999, but due to the thick fog their boats could not cross the river. Suddenly, a man dressed in red arrived and promised that he would immediately build a bridge in exchange for the first soul to cross the bridge. The man in red was the devil, and only the Archangel Michael, who had come from the nearby church, recognized him. Michael pretended to agree to the deal, but once the bridge was built, a goat crossed it first. The bridge is therefore also known as the Ponte del Diavolo ("Devil's Bridge").

The covered bridge has its origins in Roman times. The current one was constructed in the 14th century and covered in 1583. Upstream of the bridge you can still see pillars of the original bridge, reconstructed after the Second World War. A memorial stone on the bridge tells that Albert Einstein stayed in Pavia for several months and loved the place.

The Statua della Lavandaia in Pavia is one of the symbols of the city. This beautiful sculpture, created by local artist Giovanni Scapolla in 1981, recalls the time when the banks of the Ticino River were populated by women who washed clothes in the river. Giovanni Scapolla was inspired by his mother, a famous washerwoman named 'Sciura Teresina', who always wore a traditional 'caplina' on her head. Names of the washerwomen: The washerwomen often had nicknames related to physical characteristics. The most famous was 'Angiuleta', but there were others such as 'Marieta dai pe tort' (with crooked feet) and 'Gianina la culona' (the plump one). Method: The women worked all day on the riverbank. The clothes were soaked overnight in large concrete containers and then washed by the river using a wooden board (‘a scägn’). Men and children collected the washed clothes and delivered them throughout the city. It was hard and unprofitable work, with only one or two lira each. Singing and entertainment: To pass the time, the washerwomen often sang. One of their favorite songs was “La donna è mobile” from Verdi's opera Rigoletto. They even adapted the text: 'La dona l'è UN MOBIL da met in sala, l'om l'è un asin da met in stala', referring to the fact that men walked around all day while the women stood still to to wash.