Return to Mantova photos

The small city of Mantova (or Mantua) (60,000 people) lies just south of Verona and Lago di Garda. Geographically, it is marked by the fact that it lies on a peninsula in the Mincio River, surrounded by a lagoon on three sides (sometimes regarded as three lakes). Historically, the city’s first claim to fame can be that it is the birthplace of the Roman poet Virgil in 70 BC. More "recently," the city is famous as the home of the Gonzaga family, who ruled from 1328 for almost 300 years. A view of the ducal palace is shown here. From 14C-17C it was a political center of international significance, seat of one of the most splendid courts in Europe. It was during this time that most of the significant buildings were built, including the clock tower shown here (built in 1473). (It is difficult to discern in this picture, but the clock measures minutes, hours, days, months, and phases of the moon.)

The city thrived under the leadership of one of the outstanding women leaders of the Renaissance, Isabella D’Este (1474-1539), who hired Raphael, Mantegna, and Giulio Romano, among others, to decorate the Ducal Palace (only an exterior view shown here—the 500 rooms will have to be seen in person!)

The other feature of Mantova shown here is the famous Palazzo Te (1525), built as a summer retreat villa for Federico II Gonzaga. Many rooms are adorned with exquisite frescoes; shown here are scenes from the Sala dei Giganti, illustrating the Fall of the Titans Struck by Jove’s Thunderbolt. The entire scene, still in vivid fresh colors, cannot be captured adequately by camera, since it is painted as a unit on the four walls and canopied ceiling.

Also shown are two buildings in Parma (yes, home of the famous Parmesan cheese): the Duomo, one of the great monuments of 12C Romanesque architecture, and the octagonal early Romanesque-Gothic Baptistery (1196-1260). There simply was not enough time and opportunity to record this outstanding city. Perhaps on the next trip.......