Mantua Cathedral () in

Mantua Mantua ( ; ; Lombard language, Lombard and ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Italian region of Lombardy, and capital of the Province of Mantua, eponymous province. In 2016, Mantua was designated as the "Italian Capital of Culture". In 2 ...

Lombardy The Lombardy Region (; ) is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in northern Italy and has a population of about 10 million people, constituting more than one-sixth of Italy's population. Lombardy is ...

, northern

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

, is a

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

dedicated to

Saint Peter Saint Peter (born Shimon Bar Yonah; 1 BC – AD 64/68), also known as Peter the Apostle, Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, or Cephas, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and one of the first leaders of the Jewish Christian#Jerusalem ekklēsia, e ...

. It is the seat of the

Bishop of Mantua The Diocese of Mantua () is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Italy. The diocese existed at the beginning of the 8th century, though the earliest attested bishop is Laiulfus (827). It has been a suffrag ...

History

An initial structure probably existed on the site in the

Early Christian Early Christianity, otherwise called the Early Church or Paleo-Christianity, describes the historical era of the Christian religion up to the First Council of Nicaea in 325. Christianity spread from the Levant, across the Roman Empire, and be ...

era, which was followed by a building destroyed by a fire in 894. It was quickly re erected in Protoromanesque style. The church was rebuilt beginning in 1132 by Bishop Manfredo, initially in the

Romanesque style Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe that was predominant in the 11th and 12th centuries. The style eventually developed into the Gothic style with the shape of the arches providing a simple distinction: the Ro ...

. The bell tower was finished before 1150. The current church stands on the Romanesque church of San Pietro, of which only some wall structures and the bell tower are preserved. It was rebuilt in 1395–1401 with the addition of side chapels and a

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, a Germanic people **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Gothic alphabet, an alphabet used to write the Gothic language ** Gothic ( ...

west front, which can still be seen in a sketch by

Domenico Morone Domenico Morone ( 1442 – 1518) was an Italian painter from Verona, painting in an early Renaissance style. Much of his work has not survived, notably his fresco cycles. He was considered by Vasari to be second only to Liberale da Verona among ...

(preserved in the

Palazzo Ducale Several palaces are named Ducal Palace (Italian: ''Palazzo Ducale'' ) because it was the seat or residence of a duke. Notable palaces with the name include: France *Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy, Dijon * Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine, Nancy * ...

of Mantua). In 1395

Francesco I Gonzaga image:Ritratto di Francesco I Gonzaga.jpg, Portrait of Francesco I Gonzaga Francesco I Gonzaga (1366 – 7 March 1407) was List of rulers of Mantua, ruler of Mantua from 1382 to 1407. He was also a condottiero. Diplomatic policies towards Mil ...

, to celebrate the birth of his firstborn son, ordered the construction of a new facade in the

Gothic style Gothic architecture is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to the 16th century, during the High and Late Middle Ages, surviving into the 17th and 18th centuries in some areas. It evolved from Romanesque ar ...

. It was carried out by the Venetian brothers Jacobello and Pierpaolo dalle Masegne. Of their original work, only the right flank of the cathedral has survived. The façade was equipped with a prothyrum, rose windows and pinnacles. The organ of the cathedral was built by Hans Tugi in c. 1503. After another fire in 1545, Cardinal

Ercole Gonzaga Ercole Gonzaga (23 November 1505 – 2 March 1563) was an Italian Cardinal. Biography Born in Mantua, he was the son of the Marquis Francesco Gonzaga and Isabella d'Este, and nephew of Cardinal Sigismondo Gonzaga. He studied philosophy at Bo ...

, then regent of the Duchy of Mantua, commissioned

Giulio Romano Giulio Pippi ( – 1 November 1546), known as Giulio Romano and Jules Romain ( , ; ), was an Italian Renaissance painter and architect. He was a pupil of Raphael, and his stylistic deviations from High Renaissance classicism help define the ...

to renovate the church. Romano left the facade and perimeter walls intact but substantially altered the interior, transforming it into a form similar to the ancient early Christian version of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Notable characteristics of the Renaissance structure are the cusps, decorated with

rose window Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in Gothic cathedrals and churches. The windows are divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery. The term ''rose window'' wa ...

s on the south side, which end at the Romanesque bell tower. After Giulio Romano's death in 1546, the work continued under Giovan Battista Bertani. During the period of French occupation, the cathedral was subjected to heavy Napoleonic spoliation. The altarpiece ''Temptations of St. Anthony the Abbot'', by

Paolo Veronese Paolo Caliari (152819 April 1588), known as Paolo Veronese ( , ; ), was an Italian Renaissance painter based in Venice, known for extremely large history paintings of religion and mythology, such as ''The Wedding at Cana (Veronese), The Wedding ...

was among the 10 canvases in the Cathedral of Mantua, commissioned from Veronese and Mantuan artists by Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga in the mid-1500s that are now in the Museum of Caen, Normandy, from the time of the Napoleonic occupation.

Architecture

The cathedral is an overlay of three styles: the late Baroque facade, the Gothic left flank, and the Romanesque bell tower. On the initiative of Bishop Antonio Guidi of Bagno, the present facade, completely made of

Carrara marble Carrara marble, or Luna marble (''marmor lunense'') to the Romans, is a type of white or blue-grey marble popular for use in sculpture and building decor. It has been quarried since Roman times in the mountains just outside the city of Carrara ...

, was built between 1756 and 1761 to the design of the Roman Nicolò Baschiera, an engineer of the Austrian army. The commission for the work was given to Giovanni Angelo Finali (1709-1772), an artist from Valsolda long active in Verona, who was also the author of the statues placed on the facade, along with sculptor Giuseppe Tivani. The central part of the facade, where the three portals open, is punctuated by four Corinthian pilasters and surmounted by a triangular pediment. On the tympanum are statues of St. Celestine,

St. Peter Saint Peter (born Shimon Bar Yonah; 1 BC – AD 64/68), also known as Peter the Apostle, Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, or Cephas, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and one of the first leaders of the early Christian Church. He appears repe ...

St. Paul Paul, also named Saul of Tarsus, commonly known as Paul the Apostle and Saint Paul, was a Christian apostle ( AD) who spread the teachings of Jesus in the first-century world. For his contributions towards the New Testament, he is generally ...

and St. Anselm, while on the side bodies, again from left to right, are those of St. Speciosa, St. Luigi Gonzaga, St. John Bono and Blessed Osanna Andreasi. Along the right flank, the 15th-century crowning spires and spires can still be seen; the Romanesque bell tower houses a concert of seven bells, of which the 6 big ones are tuned according to the scale of B♭2 major and the small one is an octave above the big bell. The largest is excellent work by the unsurpassed 18th-century master Giuseppe Ruffini. The remainder were cast by the Cavadini firm of Verona in the first half of the 19th century.

Interior

The interior of the cathedral is Latin cross, with a hall divided into five aisles by four rows of fluted Corinthian columns. The two outer side aisles and the nave are covered with a flat coffered ceiling; the two inner side aisles are covered with barrel vaults. The dome has an octagonal drum but no lantern. The high altar is in polychrome marble and is surmounted by a carved wooden Crucifix. Ippolito Andreasi and Teodoro Ghisi painting the ceiling and cupola for Bishop Francesco Gonzaga. The vault of the 15th-century Sacristy is decorated with medallions of the Mantegna school.

Chapels

The left arm of the transept ends in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, which was built in the 17th century, decorated in the late 17th century and linked to the cult of the relic of the blood of Christ. The altarpiece ''Saint Martin dividing his cloak with the beggar'' is by

Paolo Farinati Paolo Farinati (also known as ''Farinato'' or ''Farinato degli Uberti''; c. 1524 – c. 1606) was an Italian Painting, painter of the Mannerist style, active in mainly in his native Verona, but also in Mantua and Venice. He may have ancestors a ...

(1552). It also contains a painting of ''Saint Margaret'' by Domenico Brusasorci (1552) Also on the left side is the shrine of the Crowned Virgin perhaps designed by

Luca Fancelli Luca Fancelli (c. 1430 – c. 1502) was an Italian architect and sculptor. Biography Fancelli was born in Settignano, a fraction of Florence. Much of his life and work is an enigma; what is known for sure is that he trained as a stonecutte ...

around 1480. Along each of the two outer side aisles is a row of side chapels, whose altars are adorned with altarpieces by the most important artists of

Mannerism Mannerism is a style in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520, spreading by about 1530 and lasting until about the end of the 16th century in Italy, when the Baroque style largely replaced it ...

in Mantua (the canvases by Paolo Veronese and

Giulio Campi Giulio Campi (1502 – 5 March 1572) was an Italian painter and architect. His brothers Vincenzo Campi and Antonio Campi were also renowned painters. Biography The eldest of a family of prominent painters, Campi was born at Cremona. His father G ...

, the most important of the cycle, are no longer in Mantua today). The chapels were not actually present in Giulio Romano's original plan, as he designed two more naves there. The left aisle includes altars dedicated to the devotions of several saints. First in sequence from the entrance to the cathedral is the altar of St. Agatha, with a painting by

Ippolito Costa Ippolito Costa (1506 – 8 November 1561) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period. He was born in Mantua, the son of the painter Lorenzo Costa. Although not a pupil of Giulio Romano, his style closely imitated that master. He mentor ...

from 1552. Following in sequence are altars dedicated to Saint Speciosa, Saint Lucia and Saint Pius X, bishop of Mantua from 1884 to 1893. The altarpieces present are respectively by Giovanni Battista Bertani, Fermo Ghisoni, and Alessandro Dal Prato (1909-2002).

Other interior artwork

* ''The Trinity with the Virgin, Saint John and angels'' by

Antonio Maria Viani Antonio Maria Viani (born c. 1540) (also called ''Vianino'') was an Italian painter and carver of the Renaissance period. He was born in Cremona and was a pupil of Campi, as well as a court painter to Duke Vincenzo I Gonzaga, and adorned the lar ...

(fresco in apse) *''Glory of Saint Joseph'' (1616) by Niccolò Ricciolini *''Saint Dominic'' by Bernardino Malpizzi *''Madonna dell'Itria'' by

*''Saint Aloysius Gonzaga'' by Ippolito Andreasi * ''Saint Speciosa'' by Giovan Battista Bertani

Pipe organ

On the chancel of the right arm of the transept is the cathedral's pipe organ, built by the Cremasque organ company Benzi-Franceschini in 1915 and later restored and enlarged several times. Routine maintenance is performed by the Micheli firm of Volta Mantovana. The instrument has electropneumatic transmission, with an independent mobile console located on the floor in the transept near the chancel, having two keyboards of 61 notes each and a concave-radial pedalboard of 32 notes. The neoclassical case, made of carved and gilded wood, is derived from the earlier instrument of the first half of the 19th century and was designed by Giambattista Marconi; it has the exposition composed of three main reed cusps with horizontally aligned shield mouths.

Musicians

* Rossino Mantovano (fl. 1505–1511), maestro di canto at the Mantua Cathedral in 1510-1511 * Ruggier Trofeo (c. 1550-1614), organist at the Mantua Cathedral in 1576-1577 *

Ippolito Baccusi Ippolito Baccusi (also Baccusii, Hippolyti) (c. 1550 – 2 September 1609) was an Italian composer of the late Renaissance, active in northern Italy, including Venice, Mantua, and Verona. A member of the Venetian School of composers, he had a str ...

(c. 1550 – 1609), mastro di cappella at the Mantua Cathedral from 1583-1591 *

Lodovico Grossi da Viadana Lodovico Grossi da Viadana (usually Lodovico Viadana, though his family name was Grossi; c. 1560 – 2 May 1627) was an Italian composer, teacher, and Franciscan friar of the Order of Friars Minor Observants. He was the first significant figu ...

(c. 1560 – 1627), mastro di cappella at the Mantua Cathedral from 1594-1596

Burials

Boniface of Canossa Boniface III (also ''Boniface IV'' or ''Boniface of Canossa'') (c. 985 – 6 May 1052), son of Tedald of Canossa and the father of Matilda of Tuscany, was the most powerful north Italian prince of his age. By inheritance he was count (or lord) of ...

(†1052), father of Countess Matilda *

Anselm of Lucca Anselm of Lucca (; ; 1036 – 18 March 1086), born Anselm of Baggio ('), was a medieval bishop of Lucca in Italy and a prominent figure in the Investiture Controversy amid the fighting in central Italy between Matilda, countess of Tuscan ...

, patron saint of the city who died in 1086 * Blessed Giacomo Benefatti (†1332) bishop of the city in 1304 *

Ludovico I Gonzaga Ludovico I Gonzaga (1268 – 18 January 1360) was an Italian lord, the founder of the Gonzaga family who was the first capitano del popolo of Mantua and imperial vicar. Biography Born in Mantua, he was the son of Guido Corradi and the grandson of ...

(†1360) founder of the Gonzaga dynasty *

Ludovico III Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua Ludovico III Gonzaga of Mantua, known as the Turk (), also spelled Lodovico (also Ludovico II; 5 June 1412 – 12 June 1478) was the ruler of the Italian city of Mantua from 1444 to his death in 1478. Biography Ludovico was the son of Gianfran ...

* Filippino Gonzaga, son of Luigi Gonzaga * Antonio degli Uberti, bishop of Mantua from 1390 to 1417 * Galeazzo Cavriani, bishop of Mantua from 1444 to 1466 *

Ludovico III Gonzaga Ludovico III Gonzaga of Mantua, known as the Turk (), also spelled Lodovico (also Ludovico II; 5 June 1412 – 12 June 1478) was the ruler of the Italian city of Mantua from 1444 to his death in 1478. Biography Ludovico was the son of Gianfran ...

, (†1478) 2nd marquis of Mantua * Barbara of Brandenburg (†1481) wife of Ludovico III Gonzaga * Osanna Andreasi, (†1505) venerated as blessed *

Ferrante Gonzaga Ferrante I Gonzaga (also Ferdinando I Gonzaga; 28 January 1507 – 15 November 1557) was an Italian condottiero, a member of the House of Gonzaga and the founder of the branch of the Gonzaga of Guastalla. Biography Ferrante was born in Mantua ...

(†1557) count of Guastalla *

, (†1563) cardinal * Federico Gonzaga, (†1565) cardinal and bishop of Mantua *

Eleanor of Austria Eleanor of Austria (15 November 1498 – 25 February 1558), also called Eleanor of Castile, was Queen of Portugal from 1518 to 1521 as the wife of King Manuel I and Queen of France from 1530 to 1547 as the wife of King Francis I. She also he ...

, (†1594) wife of William Gonzaga * Francesco Gonzaga, (†1620) bishop of Mantua *

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (baptized 23 March 16095 May 1664) was an Italian Baroque painter, printmaker and draftsman, of the Genoese school (painting), Genoese school. He is best known now for his etchings, and as the inventor of the printm ...

(†1664) painter and engraver * Giovanni Corti, (†1868) bishop of Mantua * Paolo Carlo Francesco Origo, (†1928) bishop of Mantua * Carlo Ferrari, bishop of Mantua

Sources

{{Authority control Roman Catholic cathedrals in Italy

Cathedral A cathedral is a church (building), church that contains the of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, Annual conferences within Methodism, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually s ...

Cathedrals in Lombardy Gothic architecture in Mantua