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 Madonnari at work in the square in front of the Sanctuary on the 15th August. |
Following the construction of the "Sanctuary", on the wishes of the IV of Mantova, Francesco Gonzaga towards the end of the XIV century to maintain a promise he had made to the Virgin Mary (as aforementioned), the locality, originally called Prato Lamberto, began a new era of prosperity. The miraculous fame of the image of the Mother of God spread far and wide. The fact that of the small state of Mantova had erected the imposing Sanctuary transformed the "Grazie" into a meeting point for an ever larger number of visitors and pilgrims from every social background and from every part of the known world. It was therefore necessary to provide an adequate infrastructure to receive, feed and host the people that continued to arrive. The local inhabitants now became innkeepers and merchants. The authorities likewise adapted to the new situation, and emanated the first rules regulating the new activities. Given the enormous flow of people, especially foreigners, which became much larger on the 14th and 15th August, the eve and the feast day of the Madonna, an annual fair was proclaimed for the period and all the rules to be observed were established.The first notice of this important and lively fair, which is still held today, appears in a "proclamation" of the 11th August 1495,and signed by Gian Francesco Gonzaga V Commnander, son of the founder of the Sanctuary, (see E.Castelli "La Storia dell'antichissima Fiera delle Grazie dal 1425 ad oggi"- Mantova 1979).It is the first known document detailing the regulations of the goods that could be sold, exemptions from duties and taxes, the duration of the fair and everything else pertaining to the same said fair. Other "proclamations" followed in later years and successive centuries, and they served to update the various rules and regulations in accordance with the changing needs of the times.
 The porticoes of the shops in the piazza of the Sanctuary (demolished in the early XX century). |
However, right from the first years controlling bodies were set up to ensure that the fair was conducted in an orderly fashion and that the regulations in force were applied. Again, right from the beginning the entire square in front of the Sanctuary was well organised. Buildings were erected to provide shelter from the elements. These constructions now no longer exist, nor does the grandiose convent and its surrounding buildings, nor do the other buildings which had been annexed during the course of the centuries. The events of war event - the latest was the First Italian Campaign against the French forces led by Napoleone Bonaparte in 1796 - have left only the great church and the front square standing. This is where the Mid-August fair is still held, and for several decades extemporary painters, the so-called "Madonnari", create their multicoloured chalk drawings on the pavement - reproductions of paintings inspired by the religious works of the great masters of the past, or their own creations.
Vannozzo Posio
