Mantova, Piazza Virgiliana

Originally this was the site of the port of the Ancona, partially covered with earth. It was General Miollis – governor during the French occupation of the town in 1797 – to convince the town authorities to transform the shapeless area, often partially flooded by the Lago di Mezzo, in a square for military exercises that would also host a monument that commemorated Mantua as Virgil’s birthplace. The task was given to architect Paolo Pozzo. The depressions were filled in and the architect decided to demolish the poor quality buildings that surrounded the esplanade, to plant trees, plants and bushes. The monument, inaugurated in 1801, was demolished in 1919 and replaced by the work in Carrara marble that can be seen today. The project for this work was assigned to architect Luca Beltrami, and the inauguration was held in 1927.