A thousand years in one place
It stands in the historic centre of Mantua and occupies the Gambulini Tower and part of the Jesuit complex with the Church of the Holy Trinity. Following the suppression of religious orders during the Napoleonic era, the church was deconsecrated and transformed into a hay warehouse; then, under Habsburg rule, it became a supply depot. With the Third War of Independence (1866), the city of Mantua was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. A legislative and administrative unification process began within the Kingdom, and the first network of Royal State Archives was created, which has been housed in the Santa Trinità complex since 1868.
A thousand years of history in a rich documentary heritage.
The State Archives It houses a rich collection of documents dating back to the 11th century, with historical periods that include the rule of Matilda of Canossa, the municipal period, the lordship of the Bonacolsi and above all of the Gonzaga, who governed the city for almost four centuries.
The Gonzaga archive represents the political, social, economic, artistic, and administrative history of Mantua and is known for being one of the most complete and consistent archives of ruling families during the modern era. The vast collection includes approximately 28,000 linear meters of shelving, over 250,000 documents, parchments, maps, drawings, seals, coins, and prints.