Mantua, history and typical gastronomic products

The city is a cultural and tourist hub, renowned nationally and internationally for its remarkable monumental beauty, the organization of significant events, and its famous typical gastronomic products.

Origins
The history of Mantua likely has Etruscan origins. A rich store of artifacts has been discovered near the city. It later fell under the rule of the Gauls, and after the victory at Casteggio, it came under Roman rule. The poet Virgil, proud of his Mantuan origins, writes, in a mythological key, that the city’s foundation was, according to some legends, attributed to Bianore, son of the Tiber River, and the nymph Manto, or according to other sources, to Aucnus, son of Manto and an Etruscan hero, who named the city after his mother.

From Barbarian Invasions to the Arrival of the Gonzaga
From the 3rd to the 8th centuries, Mantua, like much of Italy, suffered from barbarian invasions until it was conquered by the Lombards. It later became part of the territories of Matilda of Canossa. After the death of the Great Countess in 1115, Mantua became a free commune, though internal family struggles weakened the city. The Bonacolsi family became the first lords of Mantua, before being replaced by the Gonzaga in 1328. Thus began the long Gonzaga dynasty, which, through imperial recognition, saw them rise from marquises to dukes.

Artistic Excellence
Under the Gonzaga, Mantua became a cultural hub, initially with Ludovico II, who commissioned works from the Renaissance man par excellence, Leon Battista Alberti (a scholar and architect), and later with Isabella d'Este, who became a patron to the great talents of Andrea Mantegna (painter-engraver) and Giulio Romano (painter-architect).

Mantua: From Imperial Powers to Italian Unification
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Mantua faced turmoil, with raids by imperial troops and dynastic disputes. As a result, the magnificent artistic works of the Gonzaga were sold across the world. Mantua became an Austrian fortress city, was conquered by Napoleon, and later returned to the Austrian Empire. In 1866, Mantua was taken by Piedmontese troops and became part of the Kingdom of Italy.
A great history and a long culinary tradition, with typical products from Mantua and Lombardy that can be conveniently purchased directly from our website.