On Friday, May 3, 2024, at 5:00 PM, the inauguration of the exhibition “The Gonzagas and the Jews of Mantua” will take place in the Atrio degli Arcieri of Palazzo Ducale in Mantua. The exhibition, curated by Emanuele Colorni and Mauro Patuzzi, will be set up in the Sala dello Specchio in Corte Vecchia and is organized by the Mantuan Jewish Community with the aim of bringing to the public’s attention the long coexistence between the Jews and the Gonzaga dynasty.
Participation in the event is free, with entrance from Piazza Lega Lombarda. During the inauguration, the Schola Cantorum “Pietro Pomponazzo,” directed by Maestro Marino Cavalca, will perform a selection of choral pieces composed by Mantuan authors for the city’s Grand Synagogue. The musical scores are preserved in the local Jewish Community’s archive.
The exhibition consists of a chronological series of educational panels that illustrate the history of Jews in Mantua. The archives of the Gonzagas (State Archive) and the Archive of the Mantuan Jewish Community document the strong intertwining of the presence of Jews in the province since the 14th century and the rule of the Gonzaga dynasty, which governed Mantua from 1328 to 1708. Over the course of almost four centuries, the Jewish minority grew and peacefully integrated into Mantuan society.
The exhibition will be set up in the Sala dello Specchio of Palazzo Ducale and can be visited with the normal museum ticket. For further information, please contact the Museum’s infopoint at +39 0376 352100 (active from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM).
With this exhibition, the Mantuan Jewish Community aims to offer the public a historical perspective on the coexistence between Jews and the Gonzaga dynasty in Mantua, highlighting the importance of intercultural dialogue and an inclusive society.
Italian Version
