The city of Pavia

Pavia is a small, attractive university town, with several university colleges, a vibrant student life, and several historical sights, including the Romanesque churches of San Michele Maggiore and San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro. The University, which was officially established in 1361 (though the first mention of a center for higher education is found in an edict by the Lombard king Lothar in 825), is among the oldest ones in Europe. 

Further places of interest can be found at this website: http://www.vivipavia.it/site/en/home/places-of-interest.html

If you have time the Carthusian Monastery at Certosa di Pavia is worth a visit and is only at a 10-minute train ride from Pavia. Free entrance.

From Pavia it is also easy to reach several major tourist destinations in Italy, such as Milan, Como, Genoa, Venice, Verona, Bologna and Florence.