Piazza Mazzini, Castel Goffredo

It represents the heart of the city, a political, religious and commercial center and the most significant buildings overlook it: Its planimetric layout has remained almost unchanged through the centuries: the square is characterized by a rectangular plan, presumably corresponding to the ancient Roman forum.

[1] Existing already at the beginning of the fourteenth century, the square was crossed by the Tartarello canal, then discovered, which also fed the defense moat in front of the palace of the lords of Castel Goffredo.

[2] Redesigned at the beginning of the sixteenth century during the marquisate of Aloisio Gonzaga, it is a particularly suggestive and spectacular place and is often chosen to host cultural events, concerts and public events, such as the traditional carnival of Castel Goffredo with the election of King Gnocco (in Italian: Re Gnocco).

It has always been the center of the life of the city: from 1457 fairs[3] were held there, parties for the arrival of the bishops and even the major personalities who visited Castel Goffredo have always passed by this square: by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor June 28, 1543,[4] to Charles Borromeo in 1580, to Victor Emmanuel II, the future king of Italy in May 1848, to Giuseppe Garibaldi, on 27-28-29 April 1862.

At certain times of the year the Thursday street market is held inside, established by a decree of 1 July 1457 by the marquis Alessandro Gonzaga.