Villa La Favorita

Villa La Favorita in 1829
The villa during the Siege of Mantua in 1796
The remaining fragment of the Villa which has been restored

The Villa La Favorita is a palace in Porto Mantovano, just north of Mantua, Italy. It was built in the 17th century as a residence for duke Ferdinand Gonzaga of Mantua (1587-1626). It was the last symbol of the Gonzaga wealth and power. Its construction was such a heavy burden on the ducal treasury that it ultimately resulted in the sale of the ducal art collection in 1627. Today, only a fragmentary shell remains of the palace, which is used for hospitality purposes.