Places of worship

Despite the secular nature of its Court, Mantua was bustling not only with churches but also monasteries, which were gradually phased out from the 18th century onwards. Here is a brief overview of some of the exteriors of the city's churches, which display great richness of design and artistry and encompass a period from the Middle Ages to the Baroque. Furthermore, Mantua is renowned for being the city that is home to the first relic of Christianity: the blood of Christ, and the untouched body of its patron saint, St. Anselm of Lucca, the nephew of Pope Alexander III. It is evident, then, that spirituality is at one both with nature and the work of mankind.