Mantova

Enclosed by three lakes formed by the Mincio River - the Superior, the Middle, and the Inferior - which provide for a natural defence on three sides, Mantova has very old origins. The first village on the site appears to date back as far as 2000 b. C., while in the 6th century b. C. the Etruscan city developed. The territory was then colonized by the veteran soldiers of Augustus. After numerous barbaric invasions and after having been under Canossa family for a long time, it became a free municipality in 1115, but it reached its period of maximum splendour during the long (more than 400 years, from 1433 to 1745) dominion of Gonzaga family. The two large buildings, Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Te, placed at the two ends of the centre, are evidence of the richness, the power, and the culture of this great family, of which you might say it created the history of the city, making it one of the most vital cultural centres in Europe. During their dominion, the most important artists and writers of the era were called to the court, sometimes in refuge during difficult periods, and to produce important works. Here followed one after another Donatello, Leon Battista Alberti (on projects such as the basilicas of Sant'Andrea and San Sebastiano), the Pisanello, Luciano Laurana, Luca Fancelli, Andrea Mantegna, and many others, up to Giulio Pippi, called Giulio Romano, and his school to whom we owe the architectural and pictorial splendours of Palazzo Te.  Some important works date back even to the communal period and to the one, short, of the Bonacolsi dominion, such as Palazzo Bonacolsi, Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo della Ragione, the churches of San Lorenzo and of the Gradara. Often home of Exhibitions and national events, since 1997 the city has hosted the most important and frequented Italian festival of Literature, which takes place at the beginning of September and for which it is necessary to reserve long time in advance.