Inside the MACA – Palace of San Sebastiano It is possible to discover four collectors who contributed to shaping Mantua's cultural heritage in different eras: Francesco II and Vespasiano Gonzaga, Giuseppe Acerbi and Ugo Sissa.
The Marquis Francesco II He had Palazzo San Sebastiano built as his residence, in which he could show himself both as a glorious leader and man of government and as a patron and lover of culture: the main hall of the Palace was created to host the Triumphs of Mantegna.
The Duke Vespasian he dedicated himself to the foundation of Sabbioneta in the name of classical antiquity and preserves his precious collection in the Gallery of the Ancients Of Garden Palace in Sabbioneta. The exceptionality of this collection is that it has remained intact over time.
There Giuseppe Acerbi Collection It is made up of very varied materials: a Mamluk saddle, Nubian weapons and tools made of plant fibres alongside Egyptian statues of the royals and the precious Ushabti of Seti acquired while Acerbi was Austrian consul in Egypt.
The latest collection is that of Ugo Sissa which stands out for the type of finds it contains: rare objects to find in various Italian museums coming from the area of ancient Mesopotamia such as construction cones, clay tablets with cuneiform writing, votive statuettes, seals and amulets.
