Redondesco: Fortress, Frescoes and Tortello

Redondesco between Fortress, Frescoes and Tortello

Redondesco combines history, architecture, nature and local cuisine. It offers a destination that is not defined by a single landmark, but by a variety of attractions: the Redondesco fortress, Romanesque and Baroque religious buildings, protected trees and the first course Tortello di Redondesco. This combination offers several possible focuses for your stay and also makes the town interesting for travellers who want to discover Italian history not only in large cities, but also in a smaller historic setting.

Romanesque Architecture and Religious Buildings

In the main town of Redondesco, the Baroque church of San Domizio preserves the relics of San Domizio. The Romitorio di San Pietro provides a different architectural accent. It is located in a secluded spot beside the Tartaro stream between Redondesco and Mariana. The Romanesque building has retained its apse with traces of three individual window openings and its bell tower. Original roof trusses have also survived. The interior is decorated with frescoes by an unknown 15th-century painter. The juxtaposition of the Baroque church and the Romanesque oratory clearly demonstrates how varied the historical evidence in and around Redondesco can be.

The Castello dei Gonzaga in the Town Centre

The Castello dei Gonzaga is a composite fortress complex built on the site of an earlier fortification. The surviving defensive complex includes the lower part of the entrance tower, which dates from the Sforza rule in the 14th century, as well as the rivellino dating from Gonzaga rule in the 15th and 16th centuries and the surrounding curtain wall. The rivellino was built in 1468 to a design by Mastro Viviano. From Piazza Risorgimento in the town centre, you can see the walls with their tower-flanked entrance and corner turrets. Visitors reach Piazza Castello through the archways of the entrance tower and the main tower.

Palaces, Museums and Gardens in the Wider Area

In the wider region around Redondesco, Te Palace is a palace, as is Canossa Palace. The Fruttiere di Palazzo Te and the Tazio Nuvolari Mantova Museum are museums there. For those interested in nature and gardens, the Giardini Valentini, Giardini di Piazza Virgiliana and Giardini Fraccalini are available as gardens; the Riserva Naturale Statale Bosco della Fontana is a park there. The range therefore extends beyond the local fortress, from palace architecture and museum subjects to landscaped green spaces and a park.

Natural Attractions and Local Cuisine

The century-old plane tree is protected and stands in the middle of a field along Via Postumia. Il Platano solitario di Redondesco is located near Pioppino, a hamlet of Redondesco, and is visible from the road. Tortello di Redondesco is part of the town’s culinary character. It is a first course distinguished, among other things, by the absence of pumpkin and the presence of apples. An old recipe from 1764 was recorded by Giovanni Pistoni, who ran a pharmacy in Redondesco. When choosing your hotel, you can therefore first decide whether the most important focus for you is the fortress and architectural history, regional culture, observing nature or local cuisine.

Other Places for Orientation

Sermide, Revere, Libiola, Monzambano, Gazoldo Degli Ippoliti, Gabbiana, Barche, Cavriana

For the main travel overview: Mantua.