"Vittoria" square:the true heart of Pavia

Among the beautiful monuments and buildings that grace Pavia,"Piazza della Vittoria" (Victory square)certainly holds a special place.This square replaced ancient medieval houses and buildings(which were destructed to the wishes of the Visconti family)and since it was completed it held workshops,markets, exhibitions, meetings and even executions!Its name refers to the victory achieved by Italy during the first World War;anyway the square is usually called "Piazza Grande" (Big square) by the inhabitants of the town.Walking along the square you can find many entrances to the underground market; in this way you will also discover the ancient Roman sewer that is still below the town. All around the square(which is rectangular in shape and with the original arcades)several beautiful buildings stand;on the south side of the square there's the so called "Broletto", an ancient medieval town hall, recognizable by the lodge, above which a huge clock lies.Near this building,on the east side of the square,you can admire two ancient churches:"S.Nicolò della Moneta" (with a large semicircular window on the front) and "S.Maria Gualtieri" which usually hosts many exhibitions,conferences and concerts.Finally,on the west side of the square there is the so called "Casa Rossa" (Red House),a medieval building inhabited since 1374 by Nicolino Diversi,the administrator of the Visconti castle,who was accused of stealing material from the castle in construction to beautify his home..In fact, observing carefully the building you can see obvious similarities with the decorative elements of the castle!In 1751 a beautiful fresco representing S.Mary,S.Siro and other saints was added to the front,helping to make the house even more beautiful. Nowadays "Piazza della Vittoria",full of trendy shops and typical bars where you can chat while enjoying a drink with your friends,represents the heart the town, a true meeting point for young and old, a real symbol of continuity between past and present.