Photo: Charlie Hopkinson
A unique opportunity to visit these beautiful, art-filled places with two lecturers: Sarah Dunant and Marie-Anne Mancio.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Mantua and Ferrara were among the most sophisticated of small renaissance states. The ruling families (the Este in Ferrara and the Gonzaga in Mantua) were passionate about art and culture: painting, architecture, music, even theatre and the beginnings of opera. While many of the greatest treasures they collected were later sold off to avoid bankruptcy or pilfered by invaders, what remains are some extraordinary palaces, castles and churches with works by some of the finest painters of the time: Pisanello, Mantegna, Cosimo di Turo and Giulio Romano to name but a few.
They were also home to two of the period’s most colourful women co-rulers (and rival sisters-in-law), Isabella d’Este and the infamous, though much maligned, Lucrezia Borgia. Their parallel life stories would make for jaw dropping historical drama - except of course that any film or tv series would run roughshod over the historical truth.
Co lecturer, historian and novelist, Sarah Dunant, has researched and written about both women, latterly in her novel 'The Marchesa' (2025) about Isabella d'Este.
See the 'Further Info' for a detailed itinerary.
Group size : maximum 12
