Visconti Castle, Pavia

All projectsVisconti Castle, Pavia

A Luminous Revival

Italy

A splendid example of late Lombard Gothic architecture, the Visconti Castle of Pavia was built between 1360 and 1365 at the will of Galeazzo II Visconti, who moved his court there and used it as a hunting and leisure residence. The architect was most likely Bernardo da Venezia, who gave the structure a distinctly geometric form.

Surrounded by a moat, the castle features a square layout with two corner towers and an elegant inner courtyard adorned with a magnificent portico supported by stone columns. These features give the building a sumptuous appearance, blending its defensive origins with the refined harmony of a noble palace.

Indeed, more than merely being a fortress accessible via drawbridges, the Castle of Pavia was primarily the residence of a sophisticated court, as evidenced by the large external mullioned windows, the airy loggias in the courtyard, and the frescoes in the interior rooms. In the early 18th century, gardens and tree-lined avenues were added to surround the manor, which today houses the city’s Civic Museums.

Year

2024

Location

Pavia, Italy

Lighting design

Ing. Stefano Caligara

Product specification and installation

Hi Lite Next

Contractor

ANTARES S.R.L.

Pictures

Raffaele Vincelli

As part of a recent site enhancement project, including new lighting for the façade, moat, and surrounding gardens, the municipality of Pavia required a functional and decorative lighting design to highlight the building’s identity while respecting its historical significance, the natural environment, and the experience of its visitors.

Under the guidance of lighting and electrical designer Engineer Stefano Caligara and the expertise of distributor Hi Lite Next, Griven products were selected to achieve the desired lighting concept for the castle’s façade. Twenty-five CAPITAL 300 fixtures in RGBW configuration were installed in pairs on 11 poles positioned in the moat surrounding three sides of the castle. This setup provides a soft and uniform wall-wash effect on the external walls through a precise balance of medium, wide, and extra-wide optics, as well as optimal positioning and distance from the walls. The fixtures were also custom-coated with a RAL finish to blend seamlessly into the environment. All CAPITAL 300 units are connected to the control unit via a VPN network, allowing the pre-programmed lighting effects—including the creation of the Italian tricolor—to be easily managed and modified remotely via a web interface.

Photo courtesy: Stefano Caligara

To complete the project, five CAPITAL 100 B units at 3000K—functional white-light luminaires customized with street optics—were installed at the main museum entrance on the former drawbridge, ensuring maximum visibility without unpleasant glare for visitors. Two JUPITER B further enhance the lighting level in this entry area.

An emblem of Pavia, the Visconti Castle is a timeless blend of history, art, and innovation. Once a court residence, it now thrives as a cultural landmark, its architecture beautifully enhanced by a sophisticated lighting system.

Credits:
Client: Pavia Municipality
Lighting/Electrical Designer: Ing. Stefano Caligara
Product supplier: Hi Lite Next
Contractor: ANTARES S.R.L.

Installed products:
3x CAPITAL 300 RGBW EXTRAWIDE RGB+W 3000K
5x CAPITAL 300 RGBW MEDIUM RGB+W 3000K
17x CAPITAL 300 RGBW WIDE RGB+W 3000K
5x CAPITAL 100 B CUSTOM OPTIC WARM WHITE 3000K ON/OFF
2x JUPITER B 3000K WHITE LIGHT WITH INTEGRATED PSU EXTRA WIDE
1x WALL-TSC
3x IP65 4-WAY DMX-RDM SPLITTER
1x INFRARED REMOTE CONTROL
1xCORE S SERVER
1xDMX NODE INTERFACE
1x 5-DOOR ETHERNET SWITCH