MANTOVA

MOZART´S STAY

Coming from Verona, Leopold and W.A. Mozart arrived in Mantova on the late afternoon of January 10, 1770, and stayed at the “Croce Verde” inn. On the same evening, they attended the "Teatro Accademico Bibiena". Due to personal connections, Wolfgang soon gave a fabulous concert in the new theatre-hall of the “reale accademia di scienze”. In a letter to his wife, Leopold described the hall as follows: “I have never in my life seen something a more beautiful hall of this kind….” The concert consisted of 14 program pieces, including own compositions. The Mozarts remained in Mantova until the 19th of January, 1770.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Albergo - CROCE VERDI When Mozart and his father arrive in on 10 January 1770, they lodged here in the "CROCE Verdi" an inn which no longer exists located behind the present Teatro sociale. Capella Santa Barbara Situated at the Palazzo Ducale House of Gaetano Bettinelli Via Fratelli Bandiera - at the corner to Via Certosini Gaetano Bettinelli, the mathematician, invited Mozart and his father here to his home Church of St. Andrea Mozart visited this church in 1770 Site of the home of Signora Sartoretti Contrada Due Catene, Via Dario Tassoni On January 17 1770, Signora Sartoretti invited the Mozarts to her home, later she sent Wolfgang a present of four ducats, with a poem and a bouquet Palace of Count Arco Piazza d´Arco, 4 On 12 January 1770, Mozart and his father were invited here by Count Francesco d´Arco, cousin of the Salzburg count Georg Arco Palace of Prince Michael II von Thurn und Taxis Via Pietro Frattini Teatro Accademico del Bibiena Via Accademia, 47 Mozart performed here on 16 January 1770 included three of his symphonies

ABOUT MANTOVA

Mantova is a city in , Italy and capital of the province with the same name. The town was founded presumably around 2000 BC on the banks of the Mincio river, a sort of island among its waters (an indeed safe natural protection), and in the 6th century BC was an Etruscan village that Etruscan tradition described as re-founded by Ocno. The name derives from Mantus, an Etruscan god of Hades. The Romans, who conquered it between the first and second Punic wars, confused Mantus with Manto, a daughter of Tyresia (Tiresias). Publius Virgilius Maro, Virgil, was born here.

Mantua was invaded (after the decay of the ) by Goths, Byzantines, Longobards and , and then it became a possession of Canossa, who's last ruler was the famous countess Matilde of Canossa (d. 1115). According to the legend, she ordered the construction of the precious (http://www.mynet.it/mantova/turismo/storiamn/origini/rotonda/slortor4.jpg) "Rotonda di San Lorenzo" (1082). In 1198 Alberto Pitentino optimised the course of the Mincio, creating what Mantuans call "the four lakes", enforcing the natural protection. In the middle Ages, Mantua was ruled by several families which became extremely important in the history and culture of Italy, among which the Bonacolsi and the Corradi di Gonzaga (or, briefly, Gonzaga; 1328-1708). See of Mantua. The Gonzaga protected art and culture, and hosted several important artists like Leone Battista Alberti, , Donatello, Luca Fancelli, and Nicolò Sebregondi. Notably, the town contains many artworks and architectural treasures that record its important epochs: the Duomo, the Palazzo Ducale, the Magna Domus, the Palazzo del Capitano, the Palazzo Vescovile, the Palazzo degli Uberti, the Castle of St. George, the Palazzo Castiglioni (or Palazzo Bonacolsi), the Tower of the Gabbia, and the Palazzo del Podestà, all of which are examples of a unique patrimony in patrician buildings and in Italian architecture. However, the most important testimony to this skill is undoubtedly the Palazzo Te.

PARTNER ACTIVITIES

Detailed information you find on the local websites of our partners or http://www.mozartways.com/mantova

CONTACT & INFORMATION

Comune di Mantova Via Frattini 60 46100 Mantova ITALY Tel. +39 0376 338645 http://www.comune.mantova.it

Tourist Info Azienda di Promozione Turistica Piazza Mantegna 6 46100 Mantova ITALY Tel. +39 0376 432432 http://www.turismo.mantova.it E-mail: [email protected]