From the Certosa to the Erbaluce: A day in Pavia. Trip to lombardy region, Italy

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If the canal was navigable as it was until about sixty years ago, we could get to Pavia in the boat. As we approach the city around the '600 called Papia, and was the capital of the kingdom of the Lombards, imagine a romantic trail that maybe some time you can make really: after the departure of Milan from the dock, our boat go down Naviglio Pavese Po through the quiet countryside, and once in the city, would be a ride on the Ticino river, passing under the spectacular covered bridge.
Looking forward to coming back here by water, we are very happy to visit Pavia being no joints in the car during a sunny spot, autumn day. Who we were, you know: Pavia is very nice, even thought the fact Francesco Petrarca. In a letter addressed to Giovanni Boccaccio, the poet of the Canzoniere is enthusiastic about the city, which says that rises in the sky its many towers and enjoy the dual view of the Alps and the Apennines, in addition to being cheered by the tranquil waters of the Ticino . Petrarch speaks of the great castle of Galeazzo, and the marble bridge over the Ticino.
The famous Covered Bridge has fascinated us, and we discovered that despite being built on the same basis, it is not the same bridge that he knew Petrarch. In fact, the fourteenth-century bridge, which in turn built on the ruins of an ancient Roman bridge, was expanded and modified several times throughout history, until it was severely damaged during the Second World War, and finally demolished and rebuilt from scratch. The bridge that now connects the city and admire the characteristic Borgo Ticino, where there is also a bronze statue of a washerwoman, reminiscent of the suggestive Alley Lavandai of Milan, was inaugurated in 1951.
Along the broad avenues, built on the path of the ancient wall that surrounded Pavia, and entering the characteristic narrow streets, we breathed the air of a city on a human scale and rich in history and culture, even as a major university center. In addition to visiting some of the most important churches, including the Basilica of San Michele, where he was crowned Frederick Barbarossa, or as the Cathedral, an imposing religious building whose dome is the third in size in Italy, we also wanted to make a tear just out of town to admire the Certosa di Pavia, a monument of immense historical and artistic wealth, built by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who laid the symbolic foundation stone of the yard in 1396.
If our day, kissed by the sun of October, he gave us many good surprises in the arts, was the light of this season, that sun in a burst of late summer light, set off the warm side of things, to take Restaurant in Erbaluce, local wine takes its name from the famous, so called thanks to the warm amber color and reflections that take the grapes in autumn. Upon entering, we are impressed by the warmth of the fine artwork on the walls, as well as by the sympathy of those who welcomed us: the owner, Antonio, her husband William sommelier, as well as Daniela, Ludmilla and Frank, we know later. As soon as we begin studying the menu, we discover with great pleasure that the holder is Luke's as well as one of us, so let's start with the starters and the best traditions of the Basilicata region, including a crock of beans and chicory with a slice of bread from Matera. Also sample the Favata, a cream of thistles and beans, before moving to the former, inspired by the tradition of burnt wheat lasagna with spinach, pine nuts and Taleggio cheese, dried cod and borage ravioli with pecorino cheese sauce. In choosing the second we do drive also an ethical choice: "We make no swordfish, tuna or shrimp. To catch a kilo of shrimp, you make out three hundred pounds of other fish, including seahorses, "he says Antonia. We can rest assured we have chosen a fish soup without spines, with cuttlefish, squid and squid. Our friends take a nice cut of beef with potato Piedmont. To enhance the flavors of this wine also with goodness, we rely on the wisdom of William, which we propose, in addition all'Erbaluce, several other wines of Piedmont, and the like Derthona Timorasso. Some of us opt for craft beers, which the restaurant offers a wide choice.
Our day with your friends around, to be repeated soon, ends on a sweet note: there are those who choose mixed fruit strudel, while the rest of the group taste the meringue with whipped cream, raspberries and vanilla ice cream, of which there Antonia confided the secret he had learned to prepare it so well thanks to its myth, a chef's important ...

Frances Bertha

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

www.ristoranteerbaluce.com
www.comune.pv.it
Restaurant Erbaluce
Via Rusconi, 22 27100 Pavia (PV)
0382/530507
Closed Mondays