it's a complex of buildings, among the most splendid in europe, that were built in different periods between the 13th and the 16th centuries.
there are more than 500 premises between rooms and corridors and 15 inner open spaces such as courtyards, gardens and places.
the most ancient part dates back to the bonacolsi's period, that is before 1328.
in 1355 the gonzagas bought the bonacolsi's palaces and made them their palace.
also the "castello di san giorgio" and the "chiesa di s. barbara" belong to this complex of buildings.
after more than two centuries of splendour the ducal palace underwent tragic events:
the "sack" of 1630, the devastations after the last duke's flight, the french soldiers' intemperances....
at the beginning of the 20th century it was breaking up; only after a patient restoration this important document of mantuan history was partially recovered.
the two imposing medioeval buildings with gothic doorways facing on piazza sordello were built between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century by guido bonacolsi, called battistella.
the one on the left, smaller and not battlemented is called domus magna, while the bigger and battlemented palace on the right is named palazzo del capitano.
on this palace can be seen six large gothic mullioned windows opened by the gonzagas (1415) to replace the original large round windows.
under the arcade a fine gothic doorway serves as a passage from piazza sordello into "piazza lega lombarda".
here is a photo shot from the bell-tower of the cathedral.
