SABBIONETA. Foundation of a fortress city

With its regular six-pointed star layout, Sabbioneta is inspired by the model of the ‘ideal city’.

But it is also a fortress city that reflects the defensive demands of its noble leader.

Vespasiano Gonzaga dedicated his entire life to this work of genius, which was successfully completed in 35 years and has remained almost unchanged since 1591.

The city-state of Sabbioneta was given a single overall design: a capital city measuring 500 metres in diameter surrounded by impressive walls laid out in a hexagon with six wedge-shaped bastions.

It stands as one of the most sophisticated examples of military fortification in Europe, reflecting the Renaissance urban planning principles of order, measure, rationality and harmony.

Its 34 blocks, with their orthogonal axes, follow the pattern of a Roman castrum.

By a trick of perspective, the streets give the illusion of being widened in space and broken up to isorientate invaders. Sabbioneta contained all of the buildings needed to serve a modern, autonomous and cultured court.

The signs of the noble leader’s power, which have remained almost intact to this day, can still be glimpsed on a walk through the town.