Travels in Italy--Mantova

Taking the advice of a well-traveled Florentine, we recently visited Mantova. 

Sometimes advice is good and sometimes it is bad.  This advice was excellent. 

Mantova, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a charming town in Lombardy with a rich history and wonderful architecture and art.  Like many towns in Italy, Mantova was settled long ago, in Mantova's case, about 4,000 years ago.  Since then, civilizations have come and gone and Mantova has persisted and remained a vital town.

We visited the major sites in Mantova and hope to revisit the town someday.  In the meantime, we have some photographic memories to enjoy.

The Duomo of Mantova:  Located on the main square in the ancient heart of Mantova, the Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle dates from 1395–1401.  It is large and beautiful and has some unique features. 

Cathedral of Mantova:  A replacement façade, built in the Baroque style, was added in 1761. 

Cathedral of Mantova:  The side of the cathedral reveals its construction with bricks and also reveals a much older Gothic architectural style with tall windows and spires along the side.

Cathedral of Mantova:  Inside, the church has a Renaissance architectural style, dating from the 1500's.  Above is a view of the nave, with the altar in the background.

Cathedral of Mantova:  Like most Italian cathedrals, the church has a side aisle.  But wait, there's more. 

Cathedral of Mantova:  UNLIKE most Italian cathedrals, Manotva's cathedral has a second side aisle.  But wait, there's more still. 

Cathedral of Mantova:  UNLIKE any church we have seen, Manotva's cathedral has a THIRD side aisle.  The third aisle is home to the church's many side altars.  The third aisle is gated to protect the altars.

Cathedral of Mantova:  The main altar

Cathedral of Mantova:  The crucifix on the main altar

Cathedral of Mantova:  The dome above the main altar

Cathedral of Mantova:  The baptistery, decorated with 13th and 14th century frescoes,  is located in a side chapel. 

Cathedral of Mantova:  The cathedral has a very large circular chapel.  The photo above is a panoramic shot that is incomplete because the chapel is so large. 

Palazzo Ducale:  In the heart of Mantova is an ancient castle, the Castle of St. George, complete with a wet moat, and a very large palace, the Palazzo Ducale.  We toured the complex and were amazed by the artwork and the lavish rooms in the palace.  

One wing of the Palazzo Ducale

In the castle is large room known as the Camera degli Sposi, the bedroom of the spouses. It is decorated with beautiful,well-preserved frescoes from the 1400's.

A temporary art exhibit in the castle included some lovely works, including a della Robbia glazed terracotta.

The palace had many large, ornate rooms, like the one pictured below.  Plus, there was a private chamber with the constellations of the sky painted on the ceiling. 

From 1579-1580

While touring the Ducal Palace, we spotted a painting with Saint Aloysius de Gonzaga, S.J.  Saint Aloysius was a young Jesuit priest who died in 1591 while caring for plague victims in Rome.  The university where Susan attended law school is named Gonzaga University after  Saint Aloysius.

Basilica di Sant'Andrea:  The basilica was started in 1472 and took a while to complete, more than three centuries.  In this instance, the long wait was worth it.  The Renaissance-style church is magnificent and beautiful.

Torre dell'Orologio:   In the heart of Mantova is a clock tower built in the 1470's.  The clock is a art of work and tells the time.  Plus, the clock indicates the phases of the moon and the path of the sun through the signs of the Zodiac. 

Rotonda di San Lorenzo:  Built in the late 11th century and dedicated Saint Lawrence (you remember him), the Rotonda is the oldest church in Mantova.  Apparently, the church sits on the site of a temple built during the Roman era. 

A Room with a View:  While visiting Mantova, we stayed in a hotel on the town's main square.  The room was spacious and it had a view.  The sunset and the sunrise were lovely. 

Thanks for visiting Mantova with us.