Five hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Pavia 1525/2025: a multimedia exhibition at the Visconti Castle

From Feb. 15 to Dec. 29, 2025, the Visconti Castle in Pavia will host, as part of the 500th anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Pavia, the multimedia exhibition The Battle of Pavia, Feb. 24, 1525: The Times, the Places, the Men. The exhibition will offer an innovative experience, flanking traditional information panels with an immersive journey that will allow visitors to relive one of the most significant events in the history of Italy and Europe.

An immersive experience between history and technology

The exhibition project uses advanced multimedia technologies and storytelling to provide an exciting narrative andmultimedia immersion in the historical context of the battle. The aim is to make the visit an exciting and participatory experience, enabling visitors not only to understand the historical events of the battle, but also to identify with the narrative, using emotional engagement to convey the content.

A central element of the exhibition will be the work The Siege of Pavia by Mario Acerbi (1932), from the artistic heritage of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group. The painting, the only work exhibited live, will offer an important key to understanding the implications of the battle and its impact on European art.

The Battle of Pavia: an epochal clash

Fought on February 24, 1525, the Battle of Pavia was a decisive clash during the Wars of Italy (1494-1559) between the Hispano-imperial army led by the viceroy of Naples, Charles of Lannoy, in the service of Charles V of Habsburg, and the French forces of Francis I. The battle, which took place near the Lombard town, lasted less than two hours and saw the triumph of the Hispano-imperial troops. Arriving near the Repentita farmstead, an arquebus shot unseated Francis I, who fell to the ground. Three Spanish knights took him prisoner. Soon after, he was brought before Charles de Lannoy, viceroy of Naples, who formally received the French ruler’s surrender. The capture of Francis I represented a severe blow, not only because of the loss of the battle, but also because of the repercussions on the entire conflict. The French army suffered a total defeat, with an estimated loss of 7,000 to 8,000 men, as well as thousands of prisoners. In contrast, the imperial troops counted about 500 casualties.

The Battle of Pavia marked a pivotal moment in European history, not only for the Empire’s military success, but also for its profound implications: the beginning of Spanish supremacy in Italy and Europe. It should also be considered that the French aristocratic cavalry, a symbol of power and prestige, was overpowered not by a cavalry of equal rank, but by humble soldiers armed with arquebuses, firearms that marked a decisive turning point in the evolution of warfare.

The multimedia exhibition will be open Monday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. For groups and school groups: Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (advance reservation required). The exhibition will also be closed Aug. 15 and Dec. 24, 25, 26.

Tickets: Full 10 euros; reduced 5 euros (over 65, university students, school groups, children 15-17 years old). Family (two adults + children up to 14 years) 15 euros.
Free admission for children up to 14 years old, tour guides and journalists with badges, people with disabilities and one accompanying person.
Visitors who visit the exhibition by August 31, 2025 can also enjoy a discount for the “Tapestry Exhibition” (September-December 2025).

More information can be found on the official website www.battagliadipavia1525.it

Five hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Pavia 1525/2025: a multimedia exhibition at the Visconti Castle

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