Museo di Palazzo Ducale

The Ducal Palace in Mantua is a great architectural complex built between the beginning of the fourteenth century and the middle of the seventeenth century, residence of the Gonzaga family from 1328 to 1707. The collection consists of about 950 rooms and covers an area of ​​35,000 square meters . Have contributed to the realization of this monumental complex of the greatest artists of all time, the Gonzagas were able to call up their service to enhance the magnificence of their palace.

The Castle of San Giorgio, built in 1395 by Bartolino da Novara, commissioned by Francesco I Gonzaga, presents an austere but elegant quadrangular mole, relieved by the escape of the buttresses and from its battlements Ghibellines. Some elements, like the tower without battlements and capitals used for the arches that form a part of the inner court (probably remnants of an earlier building), indicate that Bartolino has probably worked on an existing structure. Was Luca Fancelli in 1459 to turn this work into a stately home defense on behalf of Ludwig II who moved there at the Council by Pope Pius II to ban the crusade against the Turks. The pomp of the castle, however, was the work of the great painter Andrea Mantegna who here painted his most shining masterpiece.

The Bridal Chamber is located in the tower northeast of St. George's Castle. Painted by Andrea Mantegna in nine years (from 1465 to 1474 as can be seen, respectively, by a written obliquely on the east window, and the indication given on the golden plaque with which the artist dedicates his work to the Marquis of Mantova).

#palazzoducalemantova