Castle of Volta Mantovana, Medieval castle in Volta Mantovana, Italy.
The Castle of Volta Mantovana is a medieval fortress featuring two protective walls and an oval keep constructed from river pebbles and bricks. Several entrance gates were positioned around its perimeter, and portions of the original structure are now integrated into residential buildings and the Gonzaga-Cavriani Palace.
The castle dates to the 11th century and was built for Matilda of Canossa in her struggle against Emperor Henry IV of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1185 it passed to the commune of Mantua, then to the Bonacolsi and, from 1368 to 1450, to the Gonzaga. Ludovico III Gonzaga, made marquis, had it partly remodelled with his wife Barbara of Brandenburg and built Palazzo Gonzaga-Guerrieri nearby as their summer residence.
The castle's name comes from the bend (volta) of the Mincio plain where it stands, and its two surviving towers still mark the old entrance routes into the walled centre. Matilde of Canossa's foundation was later reshaped by the Gonzaga, who made the nearby Palazzo Gonzaga-Guerrieri their summer residence from the mid-15th century.
The fortress is located at Via Castello 28 in Volta Mantovana and is partially integrated into modern residential structures. Since it shares space with private buildings, visiting in the morning hours allows for quieter exploration of the historic sections.
The castle was built around the 11th century at the wish of Matilda of Canossa to fight Emperor Henry IV of the Holy Roman Empire. Its defences were doubled: an outer wall circuit and an inner line protecting the keep, and two towers still stand.
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