Mantua

Mantua (Mantova), city in northern Italy, capital of Mantua Province in Lombardy Region, surrounded on three sides by the Mincio River. A tourist and agricultural centre, Mantua has factories producing agricultural machinery, fertilizer, furniture, shoes, and toys. Among the notable buildings is the Palazzo Ducale with frescoes by Andrea Mantegna, whose tomb is in Sant'Andrea, a basilica begun in the 15th century. The roof of the Camera Picta (Painted Chamber) in the Palazzo is a noteworthy example of illusionistic painting.

An Etruscan, and later a Roman, town, Mantua was captured by the Lombards in the 6th century. The town became a possession of the margrave of Canossa until it achieved independence in 1115. The city prospered under the rule (1328-1708) of the Gonzaga family. The composer Claudio Monteverdi worked for the Gonzagas in Mantua from 1590 to 1613. Mantua was held by Austria, except for a brief period, from 1708 to 1866. Population 47,810 (2007 estimate).