Clan Rising
Saint George Castle today

Italy · Restored

Saint George Castle

Castello di San Giorgio

The Castello di San Giorgio is the moated castle that forms part of the Ducal Palace of Mantua, built for the Gonzaga family at the turn of the 15th century. It is a rectangular brick fortress with large corner towers and a succession of named ceremonial and domestic rooms, many decorated with Renaissance frescoes.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1406

Its prime

1472

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1472

What Saint George Castle looked like in its prime.

Moated rectangular brick castle with a tower at each corner and a long, crenellated curtain wall pierced by regular narrow arched windows and small slit openings. Low terracotta-tiled roofs sit atop the towers and connecting ranges; corbelled brick machicolations run beneath the battlements. A stone plinth raises the base above the waterline of the moat, and three drawbridges cross the moat to the main approaches. The principal façade shows a central entrance reached by steps and symmetrically spaced window openings.

Its story

The story of Saint George Castle.

The Castello di San Giorgio, built for the Gonzaga family at the turn of the 15th century, forms part of the Ducal Palace of Mantua. It is a moated rectangular brick fortress with a large tower at each of its four corners, the moat crossed by three drawbridges.

It remained the main Gonzaga residence for around a century, until Guglielmo Gonzaga moved his apartments to the rebuilt "Corte Vecchia". Inside, a succession of named ceremonial and domestic rooms survives, many decorated with Renaissance frescoes.

Step inside

12 places to explore in 1472.

The record describes 12 distinct spots at Saint George Castle, including 8 interiors: camera degli sposi (bride's chamber), sala dei soli, sala degli stemmi and spiral staircase and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior front approach across the moatMoat and drawbridgesNorthwest corner tower exteriorInner courtyard and loggiatoCamera degli Sposi (bride's chamber)Sala dei SoliSala degli Stemmi and spiral staircaseSalone degli AffreschiSala delle ArmiChapel (1563)Sala dello ZodiacoScalone di Enea (grand staircase)

Build Your Own Castle

Recreate Saint George Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1472, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

Recreate this castle →Defend this castle →

Whose castle

Clans who held Saint George Castle.

The families that held Saint George Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Gonzaga

    Built for the Gonzaga at the turn of the 15th century and their main residence for around a century.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Saint George Castle.

Questions about Saint George Castle

What is the history of Saint George Castle?

Saint George Castle was built as a Gonzaga fortress at the turn of the 15th century. Construction began in 1395 and finished in 1406 on the ruins of Santa Maria di Capo di Bove. In 1459 it was remodelled as a palazzo rather than a defensive castle, and it later served as a prison, including for Andreas Hofer and political opponents of the Austrian Empire.

What is inside Saint George Castle?

Inside Saint George Castle are rooms including the Camera degli Sposi, Sala dei Soli, Sala degli Stemmi, Salone degli Affreschi, Sala delle Armi, Chapel and Sala dello Zodiaco. The Camera degli Sposi contains frescoes by Andrea Mantegna, while the Sala dei Soli has 15th-century frescoes and later work by Giulio Romano and Giovan Battista Bertani. The Scalone di Enea connects the castle courtyard and loggiato with the Ducal Palace.

Who owns Saint George Castle now?

Saint George Castle is owned by the Ministry of Culture. It has Italian national heritage status. The castle forms part of the Ducal Palace of Mantua and was built for the Gonzaga family.

Why was Saint George Castle built, and what was it used for?

Saint George Castle was built to defend the city as a moated fortress. Its original military and defensive purpose ended after Luca Fancelli remodelled it in 1459 as a palazzo. It then served as a Gonzaga residence for around a century and later became a maximum-security prison for political opponents.

When was Saint George Castle built?

Saint George Castle was built in the 15th century. The first raising is dated to 1406, while construction is described as beginning in 1395 and ending in 1406. The castle therefore belongs to the turn of the 15th century and was built in stages over that period.

Which family or clan held Saint George Castle?

Saint George Castle was held by the Gonzaga family. It was built for the Gonzaga at the turn of the 15th century and remained their main residence for around a century. Guglielmo Gonzaga later moved his apartments to the rebuilt Corte Vecchia.

What did Saint George Castle look like in its prime?

Saint George Castle was a moated rectangular brick fortress with a large tower at each corner. Its long crenellated curtain wall had narrow arched windows and slit openings, with corbelled brick machicolations beneath the battlements. Three drawbridges crossed the moat, and low terracotta-tiled roofs covered the towers and connecting ranges.

Is Saint George Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Saint George Castle is still standing and has been restored. Its structure was damaged by the 2012 Emilia earthquake. The surviving building remains a moated rectangular castle forming part of the Ducal Palace of Mantua.

Who built Saint George Castle?

Saint George Castle was commissioned by Francesco I Gonzaga and designed by the architect Bartolino da Novara. It was built between 1395 and 1406 on the ruins of the church of Santa Maria di Capo di Bove. Luca Fancelli later remodelled it in 1459 as a palazzo.

Where is Saint George Castle?

Saint George Castle is in Mantua. It forms part of the Ducal Palace of Mantua and is located in the administrative territorial entity of Mantua. The castle stands within the city associated with the Gonzaga court.
All castles of Italy · Castles of Europe · the best castles in Europe · explore the finished reconstructions.