Photo: No machine-readable author provided. RicciSpeziari~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Historic villa / palace
Palazzo del Podestà
Palace in Mantua, Italy
- Within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Mantua and Sabbioneta”
At a glance
- Architect
- Luca Fancelli
- Commissioned by
- Laudarengo Martinengo
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 45°09′32″ N, 10°47′43″ E
- Address
- Piazza Broletto
History and description
The Palazzo del Podestà, or Palazzo del Broletto, is a 13th-century palace, located between Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza Broletto, in the center of Mantua, region of Lombardy, Italy. The building for many years serving as the offices of the Municipality. The main facade faces Piazza Broletto.
History
The palace was built in 1227 as the home and offices of the commune government in Mantua. After a fire, the building was reconstructed in Renaissance-style by designs of Luca Fancelli, commissioned in the 15th century by Duke Ludovico Gonzaga. The main facade has a niche with a well-worn 13th-statue said to be of Virgil at his desk, between two columns.
The palace has, as described, two facades. The main facade on Piazza Broletto has a tall clocktower with an awkwardly place coat of arms. The niches hold the statue of Virgil and the Virgin. The palace shows the evidence of reconstruction across the centuries with walled up arches of prior windows, interrupted by newer construction.
At the Corner, a large arch, with mullioned windows are the Arch of the Arengario, that links the building to the town archives or Masseria.
The Palazzo del Podeatà facade, while still displaying the tipsy arrangement of windows is more sober in its decoration.
Presently, the palace is still under much needed reconstruction.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Palazzo del Podestà».
People
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
MantovaTrain, nearest
900 m as the crow flies
Palazzo del PodestàPiazza Broletto
Escursioni in barca7.8 km
Aeroporto Valerio Catullo di Verona-Villafranca27.4 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore historic villas and palaces in Lombardy
Frequently asked questions
Where is Palazzo del Podestà?
Palazzo del Podestà is in Mantua, in the province of Mantova (Lombardy), Italy. Address: Piazza Broletto. GPS coordinates: 45.15880, 10.79528.
What else is there to see near Palazzo del Podestà?
Nearby you’ll find: Palazzo del Massaro (0 m away), Palazzo della Ragione (0 m away), Torre dell'Orologio (Mantua) (100 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 5 photos
- Palazzo del Podestà — No machine-readable author provided. RicciSpeziari~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mantova - Palazzo del Podestà - 2023-09-13 14-04-22 001 — Maurizio Moro5153, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palazzo del Podestà (Mantova) — FranzK, CC0
- Palazzo del Podestá (Mantua) — J.Broukal, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palazzo del Podesta in Mantova (1) — Tournasol7, CC BY 4.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences