Between Parma and Mantua lies the small town of Sabbioneta, where the Renaissance prince Vespasiano Gonzaga fulfilled his desire for a residence that matched ancient models between 1554 and 1591. The rule of the Gonzaga was a fleeting episode, and since then, the stone-carved dream of a ruler has remained untouched in a Sleeping Beauty slumber, undisturbed by any revival of urban life. Only art scholars now explore and appreciate this preserved concept of the Cinquecento in all its facets. Even today, Sabbioneta presents the viewer with a peculiar impression of a backdrop, allowing them to experience the unique aura of the buildings, streets, and squares as if in a theater.