Canossa Palace

Now private property having once belonged to the City of Mantua, the interior is spectacular. The staircase above the front door is considered one of the most magnificent in Italy. Now almost completely lost, the frescoes that once adorned the halls were the work of the Bolognese painter Giovanni Battista Caccioli. Returning to the piazza, it is striking that the façades are lit up by inserts showing figures, landscapes and curious geometric patterns. In the 18th century, a house and portico was built at the behest of the Canossas at the bottom of the square. It incorporates the themes of the palace, but lightens them a touch.