Historical notes
The name of the village Isola Dovarese refers to the strategic position it has always held since the earliest times: the area where the town developed led early humans to settle here, as early as the Neolithic period, to escape the increasingly frequent flooding of the Oglio River. Many rock dwellings have been found on site, just as vestiges of Celtic origin have been found on the terrace in front.
Isola Dovarese housed a late-imperial domus in the fourth century B.C., of which only a few foundations remain, and then in the early Middle Ages it became a key landing place for boats sailing between the Adriatic Sea and the Po River: don't forget that Isola Dovarese also stood on the important communication route between Cremona, Asola and Lake Garda.
In 1322 the village, which in the meantime had developed and enlarged around the fortress and church, hosted the wedding of Filippino Gonzaga and Anna Dovara, beginning the rule of the lords of Mantua over Isola Dovarese. This bond was strengthened after the pact sanctioned in 1414 that led Isola Dovarese to become a true Mantuan enclave, surrounded by the lands of the Most Serene Venetian Republic and those of the lords of Lombardy.
After the Gonzaga came the Bozzolo and then the domains of Mary of Austria and Napoleon, and then annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1860.
What to see in the village
The beating heart of Isola Dovarese, a village that shows visitors the typical elegance of Gonzaga towns, is Piazza Matteotti. It was built, at the behest of Giulio Cesare Gonzaga, between 1587 and 1590, based on a design by Giulio Brunelli: what was once the clearing in front of the Roman military settlement, used to test the various techniques of attack and defense, is now an elegant and strikingly scenic place.
The 16th-century Piazza Matteotti features a large portico that runs on either side of a portal, which leads into Porta Tenca, one of the four contrade of Isola Dovarese. The square is overlooked by Palazzo Pretorio, where it is possible to visit the ancient prisons: these dark rooms still show those graffiti made by prisoners and representing the link between the Oglio River and Isola Dovarese.
A stone's throw away is then the beautiful Church of San Nicolò, apparently quite sober in its neoclassical style but inside rich in works of art: in fact, the house of worship preserves insignia of the Gonzagas, the Annunciation by Altobello Melone and the Ecce Homo attributed to Bernardino Campi. This church is located in the Porta Tenca district, while in the San Giuseppe district stands the Oratorio di San Giuseppe of the same name: it is a hospital complex created in 1668 to house the veterans of the famous battle of Solferino and embellished inside with valuable frescoes.
Among the most enchanting places in Isola Dovarese is the Bridge of the Three Martyrs of the Resistance, also known as Ponte Vecchio: from here there is the most beautiful view of the Oglio Sud Park, a verdant oasis that preserves a great wealth of flora and fauna, particularly at its wetlands.
The month of September is one of the best times to discover Isola Dovarese, as the not-to-be-missed Palio delle Contrade takes place: for three days, the village is catapulted into the ancient medieval atmosphere at the time of the Gonzagas, among jesters, acrobats, figurants and market stalls. The Palio, which re-enacts both the wedding between Anna Dovara and Filippino Gonzaga and the arrival of the Gonzaga court in Isola Dovarese, gladdens visitors with games of challenge among the contradaioli, not to mention the chance to taste the foods of the past at the Taverne, complete with terracotta crockery and wooden cutlery.
What to do around Isola Dovarese
From Isola Dovarese it is possible to organize fun excursions for the whole family. For example, you can take a stretch of the Cremonese Taste Route in the Land of Stradivari, among villages and local specialties such as the sweet cookie Isolino or the famous pumpkin tortelli.
Those who love two wheels can instead ride the Oglio Cycle Route, which follows the course of the river that originates in Ponte di Legno, then crosses the Lombard provinces of Mantua, Cremona, Bergamo and Brescia. From Isola Dovarese, for example, you can pedal to the Pieve di Santa Maria di Comella, a Romanesque jewel in Seniga, or to the Gonzaga Palace in Ostiano, without forgetting to visit the Le Bine Nature Reserve.
Then, just 13 km from Isola Dovarese is Mina della Scala Castle, a noble palace in Casteldidone built at the end of the 16th century: the appearance is that of a country residence with rooms frescoed with mythological themes, complete with towers, a large courtyard and a beautiful Italian garden.
