“Leonardo’s Dishes and Bottles,” a Gastronomic and Artistic Event in Pavia

Recipes inspired by Leonardo and the Renaissance with wines featuring artist labels for the distributed exhibition “Looking for Monna Lisa” in Pavia.

The world of food and wine, with the initiative “The dishes and bottles of Leonardo” organized and promoted by the Municipality of Pavia“, participates in the distributed exhibition “Looking for Monna Lisa. Mysteries and ironies surrounding the most famous Pop icon“, curated by Valerio Dehò“, which with its rich exhibition path and numerous side events involves the entire city of Pavia until March 29, 2020.

In addition to enlivening with a wide repertoire of works made by contemporary artists the most important spaces dedicated to art – such as the Church of Santa Maria Gualtieri, the Broletto Contemporary Arts Space, the Visconti Castle and the Municipal Square – the exhibition, which revolves around the famous figure of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, throughout its duration involves renowned restaurants in the city center and prestigious local wine cellars.

In the city, in fact, at the restaurants Antica Osteria del Previ, Vita Restaurant & Cafè, La Torre degli Aquila, Locanda del Carmine,Piazza Italia Ristorante e Ristorante Lino it is possible to taste dishes themed around Leonardo and inspired by the Renaissance, based on rice, veal, pork, beef, and game meats, as well as herbs and spices, such as precious saffron, all ingredients that characterized the dishes of the era.

Among the various appetizer options is Leonardo’s Sweet Apple, a highly aromatic dish based on apple, vanilla, and cinnamon, or Lino’s Bat Lisa, a goose foie gras with pomegranate, beetroot, and delicate chocolate; for the first course there is a Risotto Leonardo da Vinci Style with saffron pistils from Pavese, Grana Padano cream and vegetable powders, alongside the traditional Cappellacci del Previ with braised beef and veal in butter and sage, not forgetting the typical Pappardelle with wild boar ragù. For the main course, the selection ranges from Renaissance-style Pheasant with seasonal vegetables and fruit, to Suckling pig on a rotisserie on pea cream and marjoram leaves, and the classic Marinated trout with its characteristic sweet and sour flavor.

Alongside a tasty dish, what could be better than a good glass of wine? On the occasion of the exhibition, three wineries from Oltrepò Pavese have selected as many bottles, embellished with an artist’s label signed by Stefano Bressani, whose unprecedented “dressed sculpture” can be admired at the exhibition: Giokonda. The wines chosen to accompany the sixteenth-century menu are a Metodo Classico sparkling from the “La Piotta” Company of Montalto Pavese, a Rhine Riesling from Marchesi di Montalto and a red blend of croatina and barrel-aged pinot noir IGT from the agricultural company Frecciarossa.

And to take home a souvenir of this journey through the tastes and flavors of Renaissance banquets at the court of Ludovico il Moro, simply present the exhibition ticket at the participating restaurants to immediately receive as a gift an artisanal plate, featuring at its center the work Bat Lisa by Gianni Cella or the aforementioned Giokonda by Bressani, both displayed at the Visconti Castle.

The initiative that brings together art and history with the realm of food e wine is carried out in collaboration with Ascom Pavia.

Looking for Monna Lisa. Mysteries and ironies around the most famous Pop icon

Curated by Valerio Dehò
Venues Castello Visconteo (Piazza Castello)
Spazio Arti Contemporanee del Broletto (Piazza della Vittoria)
Santa Maria Gualtieri (Piazza della Vittoria)
Piazza del Municipio
Dates November 24, 2019 – March 29, 2020
Hours for all venues openevery day from 10 AM to 6 PM– closed on Tuesdays
Closed December 25 and 26, 2019 and January 1, 2020
Admission
Full price € 15.00
Reduced (under 26, over 65, and groups of minimum 15 and maximum 30 people) € 10.00
Reduced for schools and under 18s € 5.00
Free under 6, holders of Lombardia Milano Museum Subscription, ICOM members, tourist guides and journalists with professional ID, disabled persons with one companion

Single ticket office at the Spazio SaperePavia del Broletto in Piazza della Vittoria. Open every day the exhibition is open until 4:45 PM

Reservation is mandatory for groups of at least 15 people (reduced ticket € 10 for group members and free entry for 1 companion) and schools (reduced entry € 5 for students and free entry for 2 companions)

Email: leonardopavia@comune.pv.it – mob. + 39 331 6422303