Palazzo d’Arco preserves intact paintings, furnishings and objects of use as they were left by Marquise Giovanna, the last inhabitant of the historic family home. Designed in 1784 by architect Antonio Colonna, it follows the canons of neoclassicism inspired by the work of Andrea Palladio. It is a representative example of an aristocratic residence of the 18th century, enriched by a perfectly preserved precious Wunderkammer. Overlooking the garden, enclosed by an imposing monumental exedra, are two 15th-century palazzine; one of these houses on the second floor the Sala dello Zodiaco, an extraordinary cycle of frescoes painted by Giovanni Maria Falconetto in 1512, depicting the zodiac signs with great refinement. The tour includes a period kitchen with original crockery and pots and pans, a rich historical library, and a music room with a collection of the family’s instruments, which testify to the family’s great passion for art and culture. Among the family’s leading figures is Count Carlo d’Arco, a noted collector and scholar who was also Podestà of Mantua between 1847 and 1848 and engaged in important political and cultural activities in the city. Today, the children of class 3^B at Pomponazzo Primary School accompany visitors on an interpretive journey made up of observation, listening, storytelling and creativity, for an accessible, participatory and engaging experience in order to learn about this precious heritage.
