• Lombardy

• Regional Parks

• Po River Basin - Rivers and Lakes - Urban Areas

An important defensive building at the gates of Mantua

Pietole Port is now a huge abandoned structure surrounded by vegetation on the banks of river Mincio. The Fort was built under Napoleon in the early 19th century, after he conquered most of Northern Italy: thanks to its position, Mantua was a strategic town for the Cisalpine Republic and therefore it was necessary to study an efficient defensive system, to develop considering the southern section and the water management, essential to control and rule over Mantua. The town had to go back to its origins of river island, and the Paiolo swamp had to be transformed into a lake. The Fort was built to protect the sluice gate between Mincio and the dry Paiolo Lake.

Municipality: Virgilio (MN)  Region: Lombardy