Monumento alla Lavandaia

Sightseeing attraction | Pavia | Lombardia | Italy

The "Monumento alla Lavandaia" in Pavia is a bronze statue created in 1981 by local sculptor Giovanni Scapolla. It is located in the historic Borgo Ticino district along Via Milazzo, and pays tribute to the women who once washed their laundry along the banks of the Ticino River. The statue depicts a Lavandaia.

The monument commemorates the hard work of the washerwomen who worked along the river until the 1970s. In all weather conditions, they spent long hours cleaning clothes, often accompanied by singing to ease the effort. Popular songs included "La donna è mobile" from Verdi's "Rigoletto," humorously reworded.

On the base of the statue, a poem in the Pavia dialect by poet Dario Morani is engraved, capturing the significance and memories of these women.

The "Monumento alla Lavandaia" is now a symbol of Pavia, offering visitors a glimpse into the city's social and cultural traditions. It stands as a tribute to the often overlooked but essential role of washerwomen in local history.