Sabbioneta

Sabbioneta is a town in Lombardy, Italy, in the province of Mantua, about 30 km north of Parma, not far from the N. bank of the Po River, 19 m. above sea-level. As of 2007 Sabbioneta had an estimated population of 4,337. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008.

Its period of prosperity and artistic patronage was under Vespasiano Gonzaga (d. 1591), who was its duke; by him it was transformed into a small Residenzstadt. It was well fortified and built, and from this period date the ducal palace (now the Municipio), the theatre designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi (1548-1616), and other buildings. The church and the summer palace contain frescoes by artists of the Campi family of Cremona. It was also during this period that it became a minor musical centre; composers such as Benedetto Pallavicino were employed here by Vespasiano, prior to his moving to the main Gonzaga city of Mantua.

The town is also known for its historic Jewish Ghetto and particularly for its Hebrew printing-press. In 1567 Tobias Foa set up the press; he had, however, published certain "anti-Christian books" and his career was "forcibly ended". His work and possibly his type were taken up by a Christian printer, Vicenzo Conte

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External links and references

• sabbioneta.org
• Sabbionetta (jewishencyclopedia.com)