Pavia - San Michele Maggiore

Pavia once was the last stronghold of the Ostrogoths, but was conquered by the Lombards (aka Longobards) after a three-years-siege in 572.

From the 7th century on Pavia was the capital of the Lombard kingdom. A chapel, dedicated to Saint Michel, existed here as part of the palace, when the Lombards ruled from here.
When Frankish troops invaded Northern Italy and defeated the Lombard armee in 773, Charlemagne laid siege to Pavia. After taking the fortified town, Charlemagne crowned himself King of the Lombards.

The former palace-chapel burnt down in 1005, about a century after the Hungarians (= "Magyars") had looted Pavia.

The church seen here was begun in the 11th century and was completed by 1155. In 900 the chapel had seen the coronation of Louis III (aka "Louis the Blind", as he was blinded in 905 by Berengar). In the current church Frederick I (aka "Frederick Barbarossa") received the Iron Crown and the title of King of Italy.

The basilica´s facade is dotted with carvings, but as it was built from sandstone, most carvings are very weathered. As the capitals flanking the main doors were carved from a harder stone, they are still in a good condition.

The people seen here seem like posing for a photographer.

There is a father with his two kids, a couple holding a vine, a man flanked by a (nude?) woman and a mythical beast with a fishtail and another one presenting a dog and a griffin - as pets. Strange symbols?!


www.sanmichelepavia.it/html/en_home.html