Gonzaga's Ringroad

route analysis

Minimum difficulty, suitable for all. The ground is mainly paved road or cobblestone in town centres, few dirt tracks. It is possible also to follow smaller segments.

Route length: 47,7 km.
Difficulty level: very low

Pay attention to zebra crossings, crossroads, and roundabouts.

route description

Once upon a time, they were Corradi, a feudatarian family of the Polirone Complex of San Benedetto Po (MN), nominated directly from Mathilda of Tuscany in 1096 as trusted persons for the government of lands. Subsequently, they became Gonzaga, taking their name from the homonymous town now in the Province of Mantua, becoming one of Europe's most powerful families, ruling across five centuries in Italy and Europe.

This ringroad makes you discover the origin places of the Gonzaga family, across the provinces of Mantua and Reggio Emilia, where family members kept their roots well and alive, even after having established their residence in Mantua.

We start from Luzzara, northernmost town of the Province and home to the cadet branch of Gonzaga-Luzzara. the ancient residencies are nowadays gone, remaining only Palazzo della Macina, now home to the local oratory, and the bell tower (proudly said from the local citizens to be the tallest in all the province).

Just outside Luzzara, we find ourselves in open fields. We cross the overpass above the National road and after some time we enter in Palidano territory, small village of Gonzaga municipality (Province of Mantua). Here we find Villa Strozzi, a neoclassical villa built by the Strozzi family of Florence, and converted in 1974 as a School of Agriculture. During the 2012 earthquake, the villa was heavily damaged, and it is still being recovered. In the centre of the village of Palidano, we can find Villa Maraini-Guerrieri Gonzaga, property of another cadet branch of the Gonzaga family, with origins in Fermo, Marche Region and absorbed into the Mantua family. Nowadays the structure is a fine hotel.

Following roads flanked by trees, dirt tracks and small fishing lakes, we arrive in Gonzaga, birthplace of the Corradi family, the original nucleus where all started.

This Municipality was disputed between Mantua and Reggio Emilia, as these territories was under the rule of Canossa family, while Bonacolsi family (the ruling dynasty before the Gonzaga) wanted to overpass Po river and conquer territories south of the river. In 1225 they finally reached an agreement, where the countryside around Gonzaga were property of Reggio Emilia, while the fortified town became property of Mantua. Fast forward in 1328, the Gonzaga family sacked the Bonacolsi, and became the ruling family of Mantua, becoming People's Captains, Regent Family and Imperial Vicars. The Gonzaga legacy was founded, continuing its power for more than five centuries.

In the town, nowadays, we can find the imprinting of the ancient castle (slightly uplifted from the rest of the town), the big 1400s tower and the minor tower, last remaining landmarks of the great castle of the 15th century, specifically built to keep the power in their birthplace. The castle, during the 18th century was demolished, and the building materials were used to build the church of the nearby village of Bondeno and other buildings in the surrounding area.
Under the Tower's arch we can find zodiac signs frescoes and the family logos. The tower is open during special occasions for guided tours, and from the top it is possible to have a fantastic point of view on all the plain. South of the canal that divides the town, we can find Villa Canaro, designed by the family's architect Luca Fancelli (Brunelleschi's apprentice), as the main building for special occasions. Here we can find also frescoes of Modena and Bologna painters.

Within short distance, following the Renaissance arch in front of the villa, we can find the San Benedetto Abate Church, in romanic medieval style, built by Mathilda of Tuscany in the year 1000. We can find inside some high value works of art.

Exiting from Gonzaga, we take the cycling path, arriving in the village of Bondeno, that until the invasion of Napoleon was the last village of Reggio Emilia before Mantuan territory. This place was beloved by Mathilda of Tuscany as her holiday place. Unfortunately, during the 2012 earthquake, many historical buildings have suffered major damages, and from since these structures are covered with safety measures.

Heading south, on the border between the two provinces we can find Bondanazzo, the place where Mathilda of Tuscany died in the year 1115. Here the Reggiolo Municipality created a network of cultural and sport itineraries, and this is the starting point.

We continue on country roads and we arrive in Reggiolo. Here we can find the mighty Rocca and the fine Palazzo Sartoretti, that now is home to the public library and has an amazing park with farm animals and educational games.

Outside Reggiolo, we cross fields, pass through the villages of Brugneto and San Girolamo, and we get in Guastalla, the small capital on the Po river.

Here the cadet branch of Gonzaga da Guastalla family, from the 1400s until the 1600 and beyond, created a historical state that endured through the centuries. This state was the Ducato di Guastalla, part of the Holy Roman Empire and subsequently autonomous state under the dukes of Farnese in Parma and Este in Reggio Emilia. This small city has it all: noble palaces, cathedrals, impressive historical buildings, and the mighty statue of Ferrante 1st Gonzaga, the founder of this family branch. Here this part of Gonzaga family managed to keep all the treasures and buildings close, without selling them to external buyers, as unfortunately the Mantuan part did in a moment of severe economical crisis at the end of 1700s, anticipating their fall under the Habsburg family.

Reaching then the Po embankment, we follow the ancient defending walls with their unique 7-point star shape, in the northwestern part of the city.

Riding across floodplains and poplars, we get back in Luzzara.

how to arrive

It is possible to follow the route entirely or starting from one of the passage points, following the GPX tracks (for GPS devices or supporting mobile apps), KML files (for Google Earth), or the PDF maps.

Arriving in Luzzara:

- by car: from Reggio Emilia via SP3 to Novellara, SP42 to Guastalla and SP62R to Suzzara e Luzzara. From Mantua via SP ex SS62 to Reggio Emilia and Suzzara

- by train: from Reggio Emilia FS take the Regional train on the Reggio-Guastalla line, then switch trains in Guastalla and take the Regional train on the Parma-Suzzara line, get off in Luzzara.

Arriving in Gonzaga (MN):

- by car: from Reggio Emilia via SP3 to Novellara, SP5 to Reggiolo and Via Gonzaga to Gonzaga. From Mantova via SP ex SS62 to Suzzara and SP50 to Gonzaga/Modena/Moglia

- by train: On the Modena-Mantova line there are the two stations of Gonzaga-Reggiolo and Palidano that serve the main town and the Palidano village.

Arriving in Reggiolo:

- by car: via A22 Motorway, Reggiolo-Rolo exit. On ordinary roads, from Reggio Emilia take SP3 until Novellara, and then SP5 to Reggiolo.

- by train: on the Modena-Mantova line, the two stations of Gonzaga-Reggiolo (north of Reggiolo) and Villanova di Reggiolo (east of Reggiolo) are available, respectively 3kms far from the town.

Arriving in Guastalla:

- by car: from Reggio Emilia via SP63R until the intersection in Gualtieri - Ligabue Shopping Center, from here, take SP62R var until the San Giacomo/Guastalla/Novellara exit.

- by train: from Reggio Emilia FS there is a direct connection on the Reggio-Guastalla line.

Tracks and maps

Cartografia PDF (downloads directly the PDF map)

Traccia GPX (for GPS devices and mobile supporting apps)

Traccia KML (for Google Earth)