February 2026. Pavia.
I was going to skip the architecture of Pavia and go straight back to Italian real ale, but Lana on her Retirement Chapter blog just got a great post out of Shirley, so how could I leave out the castle,
the bridge,
the cobbled streets,
and those beautiful shops.
In truth, Pavia didn’t look its best in the drizzle,
though it came to life at dusk, and the interiors of the Duomo,
and particularly the Church of Santa Maria (where I got told off for something) were stunning.
But it’s cask and cakes you’ve come for, so look at the top pic to see what a fiver buys you in Pasticceria Romea by the river.
Despite those calories, and that rushed pint, we just about made it back to Elvis at the station for 7.
retiredmartin 
What weird “angels in the architecture” I am sure Paul Simon would agree.
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You hear that album everywhere in pubs these days, Lana. I wonder how many young folk in their 20s have ever heard it.
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What beautiful looking pastries. How would you choose only one?
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Big mistake, huge, excercising constraint. Those two were 75 cents and a euro from memory.
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“I was going to skip the architecture of Pavia and go straight back to Italian real ale, but Lana on her Retirement Chapter blog just got a great post out of Shirley, so how could I leave out the castle,”
Blimey.
I may have to leave a comment at Lana’s post, though not in my usual milieu. 😉
Also, you took that pic at an angle to make the ‘corner piece’ look larger. 😎
“the cobbled streets,”
(looks down)
Is that a mobility scooter parked outside the restaurant?
(on a 2nd look, it’s just a scooter, but still good for mobility!)
“and those beautiful shops”
(looks down, at 2nd pic)
Love how the Italians are no nonsense. None of this “ph” stuff when an “f” will do (for Farmacia).
“though it came to life at dusk, and the interiors of the Duomo,”
Dusk is where things start to get darker. 😈😉
“and particularly the Church of Santa Maria (where I got told off for something) were stunning.”
Probably for speaking out loud in there!
“But it’s cask and cakes you’ve come for, so look at the top pic to see what a fiver buys you in Pasticceria Romea by the river.”
Phwaw! That’s why I like my beer. Not tempted to indulge in the sweeter things in life, as it were*.
“Despite those calories, and that rushed pint, we just about made it back to Elvis at the station for 7.”
(looks down)
I knew he wasn’t dead!
Cheers
* – with certain exceptions, of course!
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I went in a forbidden room in the Church of Santa Maria. It didn’t have a sign saying “forbidden” on it. Not in English, anyway.
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😁
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