Palazzo del Podestà, edicola di Virgilio

On the left side of the Palazzo del Podestà, that gives onto Piazza Broletto, an eadicule in terracotta is visible. Inside Virgil sits holding a small book on the portable desk he keeps on his knees. The great Latin poet (Publio Virgilio Marone, Andes 70 a.C., 19 a.C. Brindisi) was patron of the city in the Middle Ages. He was indeed born in Mantua, and the city is praised in many of his works. In the Middle Ages Virgil was also seen as a great magician, it was in fact believed that he had predicted the advent of Jesus Christ in the famous fourth eclogue.