Mantua
Aristocratic, rich in art and history, Mantua was turned by Gonzaga (1328-1707) in a court city of great splendour.
Every corner of its historical centre testifies its eminent history and its rich traditions: colonnades, squares,
courtyards, enchanting that convey the magnificence of the 16th century courts.
The renaissance palaces that emerge between medieval and neoclassical buildings show us Gonzaga's creative
dynamism and supremacy.
The family's main residence, the Ducal Palace, is a real city-palace that contains more than 500 rooms connected
through aisles, internal yards and gardens. The Captain's Palace and the Magna Domus overlook the city and
constitute the most ancient section. The most famous room in the Saint George Castle is the Bridal Chamber,
decorated with Andrea Mantegna's frescos, a 15th century masterpiece.
The city's architectural gems are quite concentrated in the very centre: the Duomo,
the Episcopal palace, the Uberti Palace, the Castiglioni Palace, the Palace of Wisdom and the adjacent Clock Tower,
the Mantegna's Home, the Saint Sebastian Temple, by Leon Battista Alberti. A large park surrounds the Te Palace,
a majestic villa commissioned by Federico II Gonzaga to Giulio Romano, who also took care of its lavish internal
decoration, in cooperation with his associates.