The Charterhouse of Pavia is a monumental complex that includes the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the Ducal Palace and two cloisters intended for monastic life. Commissioned in 1396 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, it was to serve as a palace, palatine church and mausoleum. The first architect was Bernardo da Venezia, who followed the model of the Carthusian mother house, the Grande Chartreuse. Work, however, slowed down considerably from 1402, with the death of Gian Galeazzo, and resumed after 1450 under Francesco Sforza and the direction of Giovanni Solari, who gave the church its current appearance. The façade, decorated with medallions depicting saints, prophets and biblical scenes, was partially completed in 1542, remaining unfinished at the second cornice. The church is a perfect blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles. Inside, the three naves are decorated with celestial vaults, frescos and a rich sculptural apparatus. Today, in addition to a museum, the Carthusian Monastery also houses a herbal shop selling herbal teas, herbal mixtures, bitters and digestives made by the monks using traditional recipes and medicinal plants grown in the garden