MANTUA, CITTÀ ETERNA
In the Aeneid, an epic by Virgil, the poet describes Rome this way: “Imeprium sine fine,” which translates in English as “an empire without end.” This prideful attitude toward the city in this phrase is believed to come from the citizens feeling that even if empires rose and fell, the city would last forever. Caput Mundi, capital of the world.
Virgili came from a farming village near Mantua in northen Italy. He also lived in such beautiful city. Who would have thought Roman poet, author of the Eclogues, the Georgics and the Aeneid, the last being an epic poem of twelve books that became the Roman Empire's national epic. A century later, Dante Alighieri, the father of Italian language and culture though of Vigil as his master: Tu se' lo mio maestro e 'l mio autore. You are my master and my author. —Dante Alighieri
In 2008 Mantova became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2016, Mantua was designated as the Italian Capital of Culture. In 2017, it was named as the European Capital of Gastronomy.
I first visited Mantova in 2011 while doing a road trip with my sister Paulina, who would have thought that this place was to become my second home, I have taught at the UNESCO Masters program in Architectural Design and Heritage for over a decade as Visiting Professor. I love Mantova and it is in my view the true "Città Eterna".
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