|
|
MANTOVA
The City of Mantova,
whose economy throughout history was essentially agricultural,
is situated, along with Cremona, in the middle of one of the
most beautiful areas of the Padana Plains. It faces an evocative
lagoon divided into Lakes – Superior, Di Mezzo and Inferior
– this position, other than offering an unusual view,
also allows the modern industrial settlements to be totally
separate from the old historic part of the City.
The name Mantova is indissolubly linked to a few names: the
poet Virgilio, who was born nearby in 70 BC, and the Dukes
of Gonzaga, who for centuries, dominated the City by keeping
it a political/military reference point. It was also one of
the birthplaces of the Renaissance, thanks to the presence
of Andrea Mantegna, Leon Battista Alberti and Giulio Romano;
Isabella d’Este, the wife of Francesco II, between 1490
and 1539, who allowed the cultural development of the City,
which in so doing, turned it into a Meta for philosophers,
mathematicians and artists. In 1607, for the first time, the
Orfeo di Monteverdi was performed, which was also considered
as the first ever lyrical opera. In 1707, Mantova passed hands
to the Austrians who made the City one of the vertices of
the so called “quadrilatero.”
In the historic centre, the urban ambience is still that of
the medieval era, in that the Renaissance presence is grafted
all over it: arches, narrow roads, irregular geometrical squares,
warm coloured plasterwork and brickwork.
Piazza delle Erbe, with neighbouring narrow roads which correspond
perfectly with this look: was the old Bourgeois centre of
the City which still carries an almost intact medieval testimony.
The Roman temple, the Rotonda di S. Lorenzo is striking and
dates back to the 11th Century. It was constructed to the
original level of the square and is characterized by its simple
structure; the interior, bare but evocative, still shows the
old threefold divisions, subdivided into inferior deambulation
levels, open galleries of the superior women’s gallery
and a high dome. The old Clock Tower pokes out beside the
Rotonda, and dates back to 1473, and has a very beautiful
polychromed clock-face. Moving further ahead, we come across
the structure of the Regional Palace dating back to the 13th
Century. A portico was added during the 15th Century to the
recognizable medieval structure, with its three-mullioned
windows and merlons. At the far end of the square, you can
find the “Broletto,” the old palace of the Podestà,
with its origins dating back to the 12th Century.
Not far from the Piazza delle Erbe, following via dell’Accademia,
you come to the 18th Century Scientific Theatre (or Academy):
a theatrical building by Antonio Bibbiena, dating back to
1769. It is a small treasure of its kind containing stalls,
proscenium and four arranged stages, still in their original
condition.
|
|
|
