Mantua Cathedral

Welcome to Piazza Sordello, the grand open-air vestibule that serves as the political and religious epicenter of Mantova. As we stand here, surrounded by the echoes of the Gonzaga dynasty, look toward the north end of the square. …

Standing directly before the main entrance, you are looking at an 18th-century addition that radically altered the cathedral's external identity. This facade, designed by Nicolò Baschiera and completed between 1756 and 1761, was…

Before we head inside, let us walk along the right side of the cathedral, heading toward the Bishop's Palace. This area offers a rare glimpse into the 'unlucky' history of the building before the great fire of 1545. …

As you step inside, the scale of the cathedral's interior is immediately breathtaking. Following the fire of 1545, Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga commissioned Giulio Romano—the same visionary architect responsible for the whimsical…

Moving into the side aisles and toward the transept, we encounter the true legacy of the Gonzaga family. For nearly 400 years, this cathedral served as the necropolis for the lords of Mantova. …

Exit the cathedral and turn right toward the Palazzo del Vescovo, or the Bishop's Palace. This building, standing adjacent to the cathedral, is a fascinating architectural outlier in Piazza Sordello. …

As we walk south from the cathedral, look up and slightly to the west. You will see the Torre della Gabbia, or the Tower of the Cage. …

Our journey through the layers of the Mantua Cathedral concludes here, in the shadow of the great palaces. We have traveled from the 18th-century marble facade, through the Renaissance genius of Giulio Romano, and back to the…