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Mantova - Places of Culture
(Orange Path)
This itinerary focuses on sites of culture,
prevalently housed in 17th and 18th century buildings.
15]
The itinerary can start from via Ardigò, which can be reached
from Piazza Broletto passing through the Arengario arch.
Along the street one sees the façade of the former
Church of the Holy Trinity. The Church was built in 1587 for the
Jesuits, but the façade was altered over the course of the 19th
century. In the main chapel three large canvases were once on display,
painted at the beginning of the 17th century by Peter Paul
Rubens: the Baptism of Christ and the Transfiguration of
Our Lord, stolen at the end of the 18th century by the
French soldiers. They are now in the museums of Antwerp and Nancy, while
the Gonzaga Family in Adoration of the Holy Trinity is still in Mantua
and hangs in the Ducal Palace.
Downtown Mantova - Photo (c)
giovanni_mn
 16]
Walking along via Ardigò one reaches Piazza Dante on which stand the
Palazzo degli Studi (entrance from the City Library)
and the Virgilian Academy.
The Palazzo degli Studi was property of the Jesuits and housed the
University when
Bolognese architect Alfonso Torreggiani rebuilt the façade
according to neo-classical canons between 1753 and 1763. In 1780, thanks to
Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, the Public Library was
opened; for this reason it is called "Teresiana".
Continuing to the left, in via Accademia, one can admire the main façade of
the Virgilian Academy, of medieval origin; formerly it was the seat
of the Renaissance literary academies, the Accademia degli Invaghiti
and Accademia degli Invitti (subsequently called dei Timidi).
These academies were replaced, over the course of the 18th
century, by the Royal Academy of Science Literature and Arts,
according to the wishes of Maria Theresa of Austria; the building itself was
completely renovated as well.
As a first intervention, the old Renaissance theatre inside was demolished
and replaced by a new theatre - the Bibiena Theatre. Emilian
architect Antonio Galli Bibiena was entrusted with this commission,
which was completed in December 1769. In 1772, rebuilding of the
Palazzo Accademico was instead entrusted to neo-classical architect
Giuseppe Piermarini, while Paolo Pozzo directed the
building works, also designing the elegant room upstairs, the so called
Piermarini Room; here three portraits, painted in Vienna by
Hubert Mauer in 1770 are on display: one of Maria Theresa, one
of her husband Francis of Lorraine and one of her son Joseph II.
17] The itinerary goes on to the right, along via
Pomponazzo with the Finance building; formerly a monastery for
the Carmelite order, it was restored in 1787 by architect Paolo
Pozzo: the façade was altered according to neo-classical canons and two
16th century portals were added.
Opposite lies what was the Jewish citadel, within which, in
1612, the Jews living in town were confined.
18] Interesting evidence of the Ghetto is the
Rabbi's House, in via Bertani, built in the second half of the 17th
century. On the façade, between the windows of the ground and first floor,
are interesting stucco reliefs representing town views.
17] Returning to via Pomponazzo, one can see
at number 23 the imposing Palazzo Sordi, built in 1680
according to the wishes of Marchese Benedetto Sordi by the Flemish
architect Franz Geffels. On the right-hand side corner of the
rusticated façade is a bust portraying the Marchese and an
inscription bearing the name of the architect and the date. The entrance
portal is topped by a balcony which is in turn crowned by a semicircular
pediment including a high-relief image of a Madonna with Child.
Just a little ahead, opposite the palace, is the Church of San
Martino, of medieval origin but radically rebuilt in 1773. On
the entrance, a fine high relief represents St. Martin on horseback and
the beggar.
Once across the Rio, at number 8 in via Trieste, is Gian
Battista Bertani's House, designed and built by the architect
himself in the 16th century. Altered over the course of the last
century, its façade still has two original Ionic columns either side of the
entrance.
19] Going back and turning to the right, along via
Corridoni, stands the Church of Santa Maria della Carità, of ancient
origin but completely rebuilt in 1613; the interior is decorated with
stuccoes of the mid 17th century; the small church square
contains classical relief work and memorial stones found in the Mantuan
area. Inside, is a series of paintings by Giuseppe Bazzani.
Courtesy in part of
Comune di Mantova Turist Office
(c) 1997-2008 E. Massetti
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