The province of Pavia () is a province in the region of Lombardy in Italy. Its capital is Pavia.
It has a population of 546,023 in an area of across its 184 municipalities.
History
The city Pavia was initially settled by the Ligures and was later occupied by Gaulish tribes; it was conquered by the Romans in 220 BCE. Named "Ticinum" by the Romans, the town was reinforced and became a key part of their defenses in northern Italy; despite this, the town was sacked by Attila, the ruler of the Hunnic Empire, in 452 CE, and then again by Odoacer in 476 CE. In the sixth century it was the capital of German tribe the Lombards and survived an attempted Frankish invasion. However, following the death of Charlemagne, the Lombard territory became part of Frankish territory.
In the 12th century, it became a commune after Frankish rule ceased, and Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor fortified areas of the commune and he was crowned in Pavia in 1155. The University of Pavia was founded in 1361. Starting from 1359, Pavia and its neighbourhood were owned by the Visconti and then the Sforza of Milan. On 12 June 1499, the county, under the direct rule of the Duke of Milan, was elevated to the rank of principality (Fürst) by the Emperor Maximilian I, becoming the Principality of Pavia. Sforza rule came to an end when, in 1499, the Duchy of Milan became a Spanish possession. It was the scene of a Franco-Imperial battle in 1525, in which Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor defeated Francis I of France. In 1707 and again 1774, parts of the so-called "principality of Pavia", a province of the Duchy under the Spaniards, were sold to Piedmont; these changes were restored after the collapse of the French Empire in 1814.
Geography
The Province of Pavia is in the region of Lombardy in northwestern Italy. It is bounded to the north by the provinces of Milan and Lodi, to the southeast by the Province of Piacenza (Emilia-Romagna), and to the southwest it is bounded by the Province of Alessandria (Piedmont). The province is crossed by the rivers Ticino and Po, which meet four kilometres south of the capital, Pavia. The province contains 190 communes and the River Po is navigable up to its confluence with the Ticino. There are three regions of the province, the Pavese, which is entirely in the Po Valley, the Lomellina, which is also completely in the Po Valley but between the Ticino and the Po, and Oltrepò, to the south of the Po and which includes Monte Lesima (1,724 m (5,656 ft)), a mountain in the Apennine Mountains which is the highest point in the province. The territory of Siccomario, at the confluence of the two great rivers, should properly be included in Lomellina, but for historical reasons it is considered part of Pavese. Another large river flowing through the province is the Olona.
The province is mostly flat with the northwestern part of the province being good agricultural land. The southern part rises to low hills which give way to the Ligurian Apennines. The town of Pavia has a major position in northern Italy's textile industry and is renowned for hatmaking. It also plays its part in the country's engineering and metallurgical industries. This is an important winemaking district and produces sparkling wines. It is the largest area in Italy for the production of Pinot noir.
Regions The province is mainly divided into 3 geographical regions: Region Population Area (km²) Seat Municipalities Map Lomellina 214,494 1,097 Vigevano 58 Oltrepò Pavese 146,579 1,240 Voghera 78 Pavese 189,394 650 Pavia 52
Municipalities
The province has 184 municipalities:
Alagna Albonese Albuzzano Arena Po Badia Pavese Bagnaria Barbianello Bascapè Bastida Pancarana Battuda Belgioioso Bereguardo Borgarello Borgo Priolo Borgo San Siro Borgoratto Mormorolo Bornasco Bosnasco Brallo di Pregola Breme Bressana Bottarone Broni Calvignano Campospinoso Albaredo Candia Lomellina Canneto Pavese Carbonara al Ticino Casanova Lonati Casatisma Casei Gerola Casorate Primo Cassolnovo Castana Casteggio Castelletto di Branduzzo Castello d'Agogna Castelnovetto Cava Manara Cecima Ceranova Ceretto Lomellina Cergnago Certosa di Pavia Cervesina Chignolo Po Cigognola Cilavegna Codevilla Colli Verdi Confienza Copiano Corana Cornale e Bastida Corteolona e Genzone Corvino San Quirico Costa de' Nobili Cozzo Cura Carpignano Dorno Ferrera Erbognone Filighera Fortunago Frascarolo Galliavola Gambarana Gambolò Garlasco Gerenzago Giussago Godiasco Golferenzo Gravellona Lomellina Gropello Cairoli Inverno e Monteleone Landriano Langosco Lardirago Linarolo Lomello Lungavilla Magherno Marcignago Marzano Mede Menconico Mezzana Bigli Mezzana Rabattone Mezzanino Miradolo Terme Montalto Pavese Montebello della Battaglia Montecalvo Versiggia Montescano Montesegale Monticelli Pavese Montù Beccaria Mornico Losana Mortara Nicorvo Olevano di Lomellina Oliva Gessi Ottobiano Palestro Pancarana Parona Pavia Pietra de' Giorgi Pieve Albignola Pieve del Cairo Pieve Porto Morone Pinarolo Po Pizzale Ponte Nizza Portalbera Rea Redavalle Retorbido Rivanazzano Terme Robbio Robecco Pavese Rocca de' Giorgi Rocca Susella Rognano Romagnese Roncaro Rosasco Rovescala San Cipriano Po San Damiano al Colle San Genesio ed Uniti San Giorgio di Lomellina San Martino Siccomario San Zenone al Po Sannazzaro de' Burgondi Sant'Alessio con Vialone Sant'Angelo Lomellina Santa Cristina e Bissone Santa Giuletta Santa Margherita di Staffora Santa Maria della Versa Sartirana Lomellina Scaldasole Semiana Silvano Pietra Siziano Sommo Spessa Stradella Suardi Torrazza Coste Torre Beretti e Castellaro Torre d'Arese Torre d'Isola Torre de' Negri Torrevecchia Pia Torricella Verzate Travacò Siccomario Trivolzio Tromello Trovo Val di Nizza Valeggio Valle Lomellina Valle Salimbene Varzi Velezzo Lomellina Vellezzo Bellini Verretto Verrua Po Vidigulfo Vigevano Villa Biscossi Villanova d'Ardenghi Villanterio Vistarino Voghera Volpara Zavattarello Zeccone Zeme Zenevredo Zerbo Zerbolò Zinasco
Demographics As of 2026, the population is 546,023, of which 49.4% are male, and 50.6% are female. Minors make up 14.1% of the population, and seniors make up 25.5%.
Immigration As of 2025, immigrants make up 15.0% of the population. The 5 largest foreign countries of birth are Romania, Albania, Egypt, Morocco, and Ukraine.
Government List of presidents
Transport
Motorways Autostrada A7: Milan-Genoa Autostrada A21: Turin-Brescia
Railway lines Alessandria–Piacenza railway Milan–Genoa railway Pavia–Stradella railway Vercelli–Pavia railway Pavia–Alessandria railway Mortara–Milan railway
References
External links
Province of Pavia official website Oltrepò Pavese Touristic site