Sabbioneta

Sabbioneta
Comune
Comune di Sabbioneta

Piazza Ducale
Sabbioneta

Location of Sabbioneta in Italy

Coordinates: 45°00′N 10°29′E / 45.00°N 10.49°E / 45.00; 10.49Coordinates: 45°00′N 10°29′E / 45.00°N 10.49°E / 45.00; 10.49
Country Italy
Region Lombardy
Province / Metropolitan city Mantua (MN)
Frazioni Breda Cisoni, Ca' de Cessi, Commessaggio Inferiore, Ponteterra, Villa Pasquali
Government
 • Mayor Antonio Beccari
Area
 • Total 37 km2 (14 sq mi)
Elevation 18 m (59 ft)
Population
 • Total 4,260
 • Density 120/km2 (300/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 46018
Dialing code 0375
Patron saint San Sebastiano
Saint day 20 January
Website Official website

Sabbioneta is a town and comune in the province of Mantua, Lombardy region, Northern Italy. It is situated about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of Parma, not far from the northern bank of the Po River. It was inscribed in the World Heritage List in 2008.

History

Sabbioneta was founded by Vespasiano I Gonzaga in the late 16th century along the ancient Roman Via Vitelliana, on a sandy bank of the Po (whence the name, meaning "Sandy" in Italian); he was its first duke, using it as a personal fortress and residence.

Statue of the 1st Duke of Sabbioneta, 1577, Grandee of Spain, Viceroy of Navarre, 1572–75, and Viceroy of Valencia, 1575–78, in Spain. Named Vespasiano I Gonzaga (1531–91), he was buried at the Incoronata Church at Sabbioneta city, Italy. He became a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1585.

It was also during this period that it became a minor musical centre; composers such as Benedetto Pallavicino (c. 1551-1601) were employed here by Vespasiano Gonzaga, prior to his moving to the main Gonzaga city of Mantua.

Main sights

Sabbioneta
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Location Province of Mantua, Italy
Edit this at Wikidata
Coordinates 44°59′57″N 10°29′23″E / 44.9992°N 10.4897°E / 44.9992; 10.4897
Area 37.27 km2 (401,200,000 sq ft)
Criteria ii, iii
Reference 1287
Inscription 2008 (32nd Session)
Website www.comune.sabbioneta.mn.it
Location of Sabbioneta

In 2008, Sabbioneta was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a recognition of its perfect example of practical application of Renaissance urban planning theories.

Sabbioneta is also known for its historic Jewish Ghetto and Synagogue, and in particular for its Hebrew printing-press. In 1551 Tobias Foa set up the press; he had, however, published certain "anti-Christian books" and his career was "forcibly ended". His work and possibly his type were taken up by a Christian printer, Vicenzo Conte.

Vespasiano Gonzaga's town, designed according to the Renaissance principles of the Ideal City, included:

The church and the summer palace contain frescoes by artists of the Campi family of Cremona.

Paperback: 332 pages; Publisher: SugarCo (1990); ISBN 88-7198-040-9

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