Mantua

Mantua is a city and UNESCO world heritage site on the Lombardy-Veneto border that was a cultural and political center during the 14-17th centuries under the Gonzaga family. Pictured is the Piazza Sordello, with the Palazzo Ducale to the right and Church of San Pietro di Mantova on the right.

Mantua is surrounded by multiple man made lakes, derived from the Mincio River, designed for its defense. An excellent free place to park is near the old harbor.

Mantua was originally an Etruscan village that most likely derived its name from the god Mantus, but there are other theories.

Old wall painting can still be seen all over the city. Mantua's sigil is a yellow and black striped banner.

The Castle of St. George is the strong point of the sprawling Ducal Palace, built up by the Gonzaga family.

Some of the hallways felt like you were getting on an amusement park ride.

Impressive antique style ceiling painting.

The famous Camera degli Sposi (bridal chamber) fresco room by Andrea Mantegna.

This 15th century dish probably wasn't a cherished family heirloom.

St. Barbara's Church is part of the compound, with numerous reliquaries built into the walls.

Mantua is famous for supposedly obtaining some of Christ's blood in the 1300s. It is now stored under the Basilica of Sant' Andrea.

The Gonzaga family drove the ruling Bonacolsi family out of Mantua and took over the city in 1328.

The ceilings are varied, but all opulent.

Can you find the horses peering from behind the curtains?

The eagle is a symbol of the Gonzaga family, and they are helping hold up the ceiling in this room.

This ceiling is a maze.

More opulent hallways.

Wall painting.

A wall paining depicting the Trojan horse and a 11th century recreation of a Roman relief. The Trojan war paintings were a homage to the sack of Rome that occurred in 1527 during Federico II Gonzaga's rule. Federico, who had been a hostage of Pope Julius II as a child, was appointed a general by Pope Leo X to fight the Holy Roman Empire. When his brother, Ferrante Gonzaga, marched on Rome as a condottiero general fighting for Imperial forces, Federico let him pass through Mantua unimpaired.

This one was pretty strange. The sigil of the Gonzaga house is on top.

There are many peaceful gardens on the grounds.

The Rotonda di San Lorenzo is next to the Mantua clocktower, further south into town. The church was built in the 11th century.

The Basilica of Sant' Andrea looms over the city. The church took over 300 years of Gonzaga rule to complete.

The Blood of Christ is kept in the church's crypt, and is only taken out for public view during Good Friday.

The Gonzaga family is still around today. Maurizio Gonzaga was a prominent Italian general during World War 1.