Located in the Pianura Padana (Po Plain) between rivers Oglio and Mincio, only 20 kilometres from the Alto Manotvano morainic hillside and from Mantua, Gazoldo is an age old municipality whose historic roots are lost in antiquity. Gazold is run through, North-to South by the famous Roman Route called Via Postumia, an ancient consular route Consul Postumio Albino traced across the Gallia Cisalpina (presently Po Plain) territories to link Genoa and its port to Aquileia, a pivotal Roman river port accessible from the Adriatic Sea. The German origin of the toponym Gazoldo (from old German “gahagium”, fenced forest) as well as the numerous archaeological findings dating back to both the Roman Age and the Middle Ages, have made scientists assume that a Longobard ethnical substrate who preserved their traditions and habits used to coexist with the Roman inhabitants of this area. From the XIVth century though the hamlet became an important fief belonging to the Ippoliti family, renowned high-born aristocrats from Rome - one of their ancestors was said to be Ippolitus, a Roman patrician around year 1000. Gazoldo Fief then became an Imperial Fief by will of Empreror Charles IV of Bohemia who made the fief independent both from the Gonzagas and the Repubic of Venice (the hamlet will remain so until the Napoleonic Age). Particularly meaningful for the history of Gazoldo was the establishment of the Mint in 1590, when for the first time ever a coin-making industry was created on the fief soil and made the fief and its holders internationally known. WHAT TO SEE IN GAZOLDO: the small town is home to two important museums: the Museum of Modern Art, aka MAM, established in 1980 and housed in the Villa Ippoliti, one of the aristocratic XVIth century residences. It houses a rich collection of over 200 works of art, paintings and sculptures, from the late XIXth century to the XXth, with particular attention given to artists from Mantua. A large section is dedicated to graphics and photography. Today, the Museum is an active and dynamic reality and a renowned venue for exhibits, meetings and congresses. Another Museum in town is the Wax Museum, the biggest and only wax statue collection in Italy. Over 100 statues of famous historic and religious people are on display: Verdi, dante, Manzoni, Mussolini, Garibaldi, Cavour, Padre Pio, Pope John XXIII, John Paul II and Benedict XVI; as well as Italian and international politicians, movie starts (Sophia Loren and Totò) and others. The Pretorio Palace is located just outside the city limits, heading towards Redondesco. It a stern XVII/XVIIIth century building. Yearly, from May 15th to July 15th, Gazoldo welcomes renowned Postumia Fair with numerous cultural events, exhibits, open-air markets.