Visit Sabbioneta
Sabbioneta is found to the south-east of the Lombardy region, between Mantova and Cremona.
The town of Sabbioneta was designed in the 16th century to be a perfect example of how a town should be. It consists of a planned grid of streets within a star-shapes hexagon of fortified walls. The town buildings and design were based on an idealised vision of Roman and Greek cities of antiquity.
Within the town there are several notable buildings - these include the Teatro Olimpico - with an impressive interior including a balcony of statues - and the two palaces: Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo del Giardino.
It is not at all apparent that the village was a great success, despite the ambitions of its founder, Duke Vespasiano - it is easy to imagine the reactions of the bemused peasants being told they must relocate from their smallholdings into this curious town!
The region never needed a town of this type, even less so after the demise of Vespasiano, and it is rather out of place. Be that as it may, Vespasiano has left a fascinating legacy and Sabbioneta makes an interesting stopover in this part of Lombardy.