Born on the left bank of the Po, Pomponesco it is in all respects one of the small towns of great historical and artistic interest. Located in the lower Mantua area, it has a history full of charm and closely linked to the longest river in Italy.
Pomponesco, the story
The name Pomponesco refers to an inscription from the XNUMXnd century AD which certifies the residence in the village of Roman Pompea family. To confirm the date, the sarcophagus of the nineteen year old Pompea found in the village and preserved today in the Ducal Palace of Mantua. The location attracted Etruscans and Gauls, but it is under the rule of the Gonzaga of Mantua that the small village became the perfect representation of the "ideal city". The project was of Julius Caesar Gonzaga who studied the structure in detail and transferred his court to the lower Mantua area, giving prestige to the entire territory.
The Po was fundamental for trade and the trace left by that era is still evident today. Equipped with its own small port, Pomponesco is a jewel immersed in the quiet of the Mantua countryside. Its charm has attracted countless film productions bewitching names such as those of Zavattini, Soldati, Bertolucci and Tinto Brass and Terence Hill. In particular, the characteristic square is the protagonist of the scenes.
Get inspired
The urban plan of Pomponesco it developed from the central castle with two lines that divide the inhabited area into four distinct and symmetrical areas. The project by Giulio Cesare Gonzaga has remained unchanged and the idea behind it is still clearly seen today, but instead of the castle there is now the Piazza XXIII Aprile, enclosed by palaces with arcades offering perspectives worthy of a picture. In the same place are the Palazzo Comunale and opposite the fourteenth-century church of Santa Felicita and the Sette Fratelli Martiri. One of the most interesting attractions is Palazzo Cantoni, owned by a wealthy Jewish family and from that descendant Alberto Cantoni, a famous writer influenced by Scapigliatura and author of “L'illustrissimo” novel that describes the Mantuan agricultural world.
Il Theater 1900 it is the classic small village theater of the early twentieth century and even after the renovation it has kept its magic intact. A few kilometers from Pomponesco, it is possible to visit the Lombard regional natural reserve of the Garzaia di Pomponesco. With an area of 23 hectares made up of wooded areas, it is an authentic cradle of night herons, egrets, knights of Italy and owls. Lovers of two wheels, then, can take the opportunity to pedal along the The Po cycle path.
Finally, you cannot miss a visit to the port of Pomponesco with typical casoni on the river and bends and sandy beaches, a place for excursions and walks. Pomponesco is a small jewel to be preserved and admired, another Italian story to be experienced.
