Italia Vigevano 1 Travel treasures

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Travel treasures
vigevano
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Vigevano (Avgevan in the local variety of Western
Lombard) is a town and commune in the province of
Pavia, which possesses many artistic treasures.
Vigevano received the honorary title of city
with a decree of Duke Francis II Sforza on
February 2, 1532. Vigevano is particularly well
known for its beautiful Renaissance "Piazza
Ducale", in the center of the town
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Fresco originale - Museo
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Fresco originale - Museo
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The earliest notices of Vigevano date from the
10th century AD, when it was a favoured residence
of the Lombard king Arduin, for the sake of the
good hunting in the vicinity. Vigevano was a
Ghibelline commune, favoring the Emperor and was
accordingly besieged and taken by the Milanese in
1201 and again in 1275. In 1328 it finally
surrendered to Azzone Visconti, and thereafter
shared the political fortunes of Milan.
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In the last years of Visconti domination it
sustained a siege by Francesco Sforza. Once he
was settled in power in Lombardy, Sforza procured
the erection of Vigevano as the seat of a bishop
and provided its revenues.
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This town, worldwide famous as industrial centre
and "capital" of the footwear production, boasts
works of art such as the Ducal square, one the
most beautiful piazzas in Italy, and the Castle,
that stands out among all others in Lombardy
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Designed by Bramante, the beautiful Renaissance
"Piazza Ducale is one of Italy's most beautiful
piazzas
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The building of Piazza Ducale was instigated by
Duke Ludovico il Moro and work began in 1492. It
was intended to serve as a stately forecourt to
the castle. It is one of the earliest types of
Renaissance piazza and also one of the few
examples of a piazza conceived as a single piece
of architecture. All in all, it can be regarded
as one of the most complete urbanistic
achievements to emerge in Lombardy in the whole
of the fifteenth century.
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The Ducal Square Designed by Bramante
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The piazza is the shape of an elongated rectangle
measuring 134 metres by 48 metres. It is enclosed
with arched porticos supported by 84 columns. The
porticos have carved capitals, all of which are
different. Originally, at the foot of the tower,
where a flight of steps now leads up into the
castle, there was a gap in the chain of porticos
and a ramp, which could be crossed on horseback
as well as on foot, rose from the centre of the
piazza to the main castle gate, the grand
entrance to the royal palace
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In 1680, bishop Juan Caramuel Lobkowitz had the
ramp removed and porticos built in its place so
that the chain ran uninterrupted.
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The baroque façade of the cathedral was erected,
thus enclosing the fourth side of the square.
This façade is curved and aligned with the axis
of the piazza, hiding the fact that the church
building behind is off-centre.
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The Ducal Square Portici
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The pictorial decoration dating back to the
sixteenth century was repainted in the early
1900's using bright colours and patterns. The
result is an illusionistic effect created by
architectural detail, mythological figures,
floral designs, ducal coats of arms and a series
of medallions depicting members of the ducal
family, great figures from classical history and
strange fifteenth century mottos.
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Text pictures Internet All  copyrights 
belong to their  respective owners
Presentation Sanda Foisoreanu
2013
Sound Cour de Savoie - Bernardo Ottani -
L'amore senza malizia, opera overture