Museo Diocesano Francesco Gonzaga.

Museo Diocesano Francesco Gonzaga - Museum Diocesan Francesco Gonzaga, Mantova, Provincia di Mantova, Lombardia, Repubblica Italiana.

History of the Museum.
   The Francesco Gonzaga Museum was founded in 1983 as the Diocesan Museum of Mantua. Renamed the Francesco Gonzaga Museum (1546-1620, Bishop of Mantua), the building was intended to house diocesan relics from churches that were unable to protect them.
   In 2008, the museum underwent significant renovation and redevelopment. Although legally a diocesan structure, today the Francesco Gonzaga Museum is Mantua's most significant museum, continually expanding its collections. Among other things, the museum displays objects from the Gonzaga dynasty that once ruled the city.

Museum Collections.
Some of the museum's art collections.
   The Francesco Gonzaga Museum houses a number of priceless collections. Visitors begin their visit with a series of ancient sculptures attesting to the presence of the Romans, Lombards, and Franks in Mantua. The collections represent a variety of artistic styles, including Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance.
   The magnificent art gallery highlights the connections between Mantua and the major schools of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque (Montegna, Correggio, Giulio Romano, Fetti, Baglione, and the celebrated 18th-century Mantuan Giuseppe Bazzani). The extensive collection of 20th-century paintings is also captivating.
   The exhibition showcases the religious decorations commissioned by the Gonzaga dynasty for the Palatine Basilica and the Cathedral of Mantua. On display is a unique collection of 15th-century armor, precious Limoges enamels, Byzantine and Arabic ivories, Renaissance tapestries, a stunning new collection of Roman coins, and much more. Although the     Francesco Gonzaga Museum is slightly smaller and less prestigious than the Ducal Palace and the Palazzo Te, a tour of Mantua's main art museums would not be complete without a visit to this landmark.