Mantua and Sabbioneta: Manufacturing, Commerce, and Innovation
When one thinks of Mantua and Sabbioneta during the Renaissance, one's imagination immediately turns to the palaces, monumental squares, works of art, and extraordinary architectural treasures that have made these cities a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yet, behind the magnificence of the Gonzaga courts, there was a vibrant and industrious city, made up of artisans, merchants, farmers, fishermen, and manufacturers that supported its economic and social growth. This tour invites us to observe Mantua and Sabbioneta from a different perspective: not just as a vast open-air museum, but as functional and productive organisms, designed to foster work, trade, and innovation. The streets, river ports, workshops, warehouses, markets, and spaces dedicated to manufacturing activities tell a story of ingenuity and development intertwined with that of art and power. Through often lesser-known locations, the fundamental role of manufacturing in shaping the urban identity of the two cities will emerge: a network of economic relations that helped transform Mantua and Sabbioneta into dynamic and modern centers, capable of combining beauty, functionality, and prosperity. A journey to discover the Renaissance not only as an artistic era, but as an extraordinary laboratory of urban organization, work, and economic development.
Typology: Walking itinerary
Duration: 2 days
Number of Stages: 7
Stages:
MANTUA:
– THE WATER SYSTEM
– THE PORTS IN THE RENAISSANCE CITY
– THE PLACES OF TRADE
– MANUFACTURING IN THE CITY’
SABBIONETA:
– LUXURY PRODUCTION
– THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THE SABBIONET ECONOMY
– THE PLACE OF COMMERCE
