Palazzo della Ragione, entrance wall

Here the names of some minor lords from Mantua are visible. We can, for instance, read about Aldrigotus Calarosi, about a certain Otholinus and about two characters “de Campedillo”, the current Campitello, that is Ubaldinus and Mocolinus. All of them were involved in the most important wars between the followers of the Emperor and the faction of the Guelfi, supporters of the Pope, in the Po Valley. The city of Mantua supported the Pope, and was for this reason continuously at war. The small town of Marcaria, with its fortress made of soil and wood on the banks of the Oglio River, which can still be seen standing on the road to Cremona, was for a long time bone of contention. The above mentioned characters, carrying bags around their neck containing money, are symbol of betrayal: they gave Marcaria away to the inhabitant of Cremona in 1251. The inhabitant of Mantua did take back the city immediately, and decided, after banishing the wrongdoers, to represent the infamous deed on the walls of the Palace, as an everlasting warning for the community.