Visconti Park | |
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Parco Visconteo | |
Type | Princely park |
Location | Duchy of Milan |
Nearest city | Pavia |
Coordinates | 45°13′10″N 9°10′01″E / 45.21944°N 9.16694°E |
Area | 2,200 hectares (5,400 acres) |
Created | 1360 (Old Park), 1390 (New Park) |
Founder | Galeazzo II Visconti |
Owned by | Visconti and Sforza houses |
Operated by | Captain of the Park (based in Mirabello Castle) |
Status | Disused |
Visconti Park (Parco Visconteo in Italian) was the private park of the Visconti and Sforza families, lords, and dukes of Milan. Located in Lombardy, northern Italy, it extended between Pavia Castle and the Certosa di Pavia monastery. It covered an area of about 2,200 hectares (22 km2) and was encircled by walls about 25 kilometres (16 mi) in length. It was founded in 1360 by Galeazzo II Visconti and enlarged by his son Gian Galeazzo.
It was used for hunting and as a pleasure ground with various features. Its decay began in 1525 with the damages inflicted during the important Battle of Pavia, which was largely fought (by over 50,000 troops) inside the park. Today, the park's old area is mainly farmland, while some portions are nature reserves.