Top of the World
The Diocesan Museum of Pavia offers a museum tour rich in symbolism. One begins the visit with the ancient sarcophagus outside the entrance and continues through the underground rooms before returning to the light through two circular openings in the floor of the Cathedral. These openings allow visitors to admire the light streaming down the great dome, a symbol of the divine presence. From the Romanesque past to the Renaissance renaissance, we witness a birth, not only of a building but also of a community rooted in its spiritual and historical traditions.Inside, it is possible to admire three restored portions of floor mosaics from the ancient church of Santa Maria del Popolo, now preserved at the Visconti Castle Civic Museums. You can also admire numerous capitals, the frieze of the ancient entrance portal to the crypt, and significant fragments of frescoes.The museum's narrative leads visitors to discover the works of art in the diocesan collection, highlighting their artistic quality and liturgical significance. One of the main pieces is the magnificent 13th-century carved ivory crosier curl, accompanied by a splendid richly decorated 15th-century illuminated codex belonging to the Diocesan Archives. In addition, there is a recently restored wooden lunette depicting Our Lady of Mercy (15th-16th century), restored to its former glory. The exhibition of liturgical robes completes the itinerary, in which sculptures, goldsmithing, reliquaries and monstrances converge, bearing witness to the culture and faith of the diocese of Pavia.
