Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Leon Battista Alberti

The area was inhabited by Etruscans until the arrival of the Celts, who held it from the 6th century BC until their defeat by the Umbri in 283 BC. In 268 BC the Roman Republic founded the colonia of Ariminum. The end of Roman rule was marked by the destruction caused by invasions and wars. When the Ostrogoths conquered Rimini in 493, Odoacer, besieged in Ravenna, had to capitulate. During the Gothic War (535–554), Rimini was taken and retaken many times. Under Byzantine rule, it was part of the Exarchate of Ravenna. In 728, it was taken with many other cities by Liutprand, King of the Lombards but returned to the Byzantines about 735. Pepin the Short gave it to the Holy See, but during the wars of the popes and the Italian cities against the emperors, Rimini sided with the latter. The Tempio Malatestiano is the unfinished cathedral of Rimini. Officially named for St. Francis, it takes the popular name from Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, who commissioned its reconstruction by the famous Renaissance architect Leon Battista Alberti around 1450. Two elephants hide in the frieze on the facade of the church. They were carved around 1450 and are already very precise anatomically.

The area was inhabited by Etruscans until the arrival of the Celts, who held it from the 6th century BC until their defeat by the Umbri in 283 BC. In 268 BC the Roman Republic founded the colonia of Ariminum. The end of Roman rule was marked by the destruction caused by invasions and wars. When the Ostrogoths conquered Rimini in 493, Odoacer, besieged in Ravenna, had to capitulate. During the Gothic War (535–554), Rimini was taken and retaken many times. Under Byzantine rule, it was part of the Exarchate of Ravenna. In 728, it was taken with many other cities by Liutprand, King of the Lombards but returned to the Byzantines about 735. Pepin the Short gave it to the Holy See, but during the wars of the popes and the Italian cities against the emperors, Rimini sided with the latter. The Tempio Malatestiano is the unfinished cathedral of Rimini. Officially named for St. Francis, it takes the popular name from Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, who commissioned its reconstruction by the famous Renaissance architect Leon Battista Alberti around 1450.

Mantua (ital. Mantova) was a settlemt on the banks of River Mincio in Etruscan times. In Roman times veteran soldiers were placed here. About 70 BC the Roman poet Virgil (aka "Publius Vergilius Maro") was born nearby. After the end of the Roman Empire Mantua was invaded in turn by Goths, Byzantines, Longobards, and Franks. In the 11th century, Mantua became a possession of Boniface of Canossa, marquis of Tuscany. During the 12th century the course of the River Mincio was altered, creating lakes, to reinforce the city's natural protection. Three of these lakes still remains today. Under the House of Gonzaga, that ruled Mantua for more than three centuries (sometimes in a very despotic way), the city developed and became a center of Renaissance art. At the end of the long war of the Mantuan Succession the city was under Austrian rule. Mantua was part of the Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy. Mantua returned to Austria in 1814. Agitation against A revolt against the Austrians lasted from 1851 to 1855, but it was finally suppressed by the Austrian army. Finally in 1866 Mantua and the Lombardy were incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy. The construction of the Basilica of Sant'Andrea, commissioned by Ludovico III Gonzaga, started in 1462 according to designs by Leon Battista Alberti, one of the "Renaissance Men" like Galileo and da Vinci being author, architect, poet, philosopher.. The massive dome, seen here, was designed by Filippo Juvarra. The building was finished only 328 years later. It houses a Holy Blood Relic ("Preziosissimo Sangue di Cristo"). The relic was "rediscovered" here within the 11th century connected to a legend, that told, that Roman centurion Longinus had brought it to Mantua.

Mantua (ital. Mantova) was a settlemt on the banks of River Mincio in Etruscan times. In Roman times veteran soldiers were placed here. About 70 BC the Roman poet Virgil (aka "Publius Vergilius Maro") was born nearby. After the end of the Roman Empire Mantua was invaded in turn by Goths, Byzantines, Longobards, and Franks. In the 11th century, Mantua became a possession of Boniface of Canossa, marquis of Tuscany. During the 12th century the course of the River Mincio was altered, creating lakes, to reinforce the city's natural protection. Three of these lakes still remains today. Under the House of Gonzaga, that ruled Mantua for more than three centuries (sometimes in a very despotic way), the city developed and became a center of Renaissance art. At the end of the long war of the Mantuan Succession the city was under Austrian rule. Mantua was part of the Napoleon's Kingdom of Italy. Mantua returned to Austria in 1814. Agitation against A revolt against the Austrians lasted from 1851 to 1855, but it was finally suppressed by the Austrian army. Finally in 1866 Mantua and the Lombardy were incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy. The construction of the Basilica of Sant'Andrea, commissioned by Ludovico III Gonzaga, started in 1462 according to designs by Leon Battista Alberti, one of the "Renaissance Men" like Galileo and da Vinci being author, architect, poet, philosopher.. The building was finished only 328 years later. It houses a Holy Blood Relic ("Preziosissimo Sangue di Cristo"). The relic was "rediscovered" here within the 11th century connected to a legend, that told, that Roman centurion Longinus had brought it to Mantua. The body of Longinus was "rediscovered" in Mantua in 1304, together with the "Holy Sponge".