After strolling through the village and the park overlooking the Mincio River, we dedicate most of the pictures to Santa Maria delle Grazie, a very special sanctuary
The particularity is due to the presence of numerous papier-mâché mannequins representing soldiers and other colorful characters, including a statue of a crocodile^[*].

Outside the church and before leaving, we admired the paintings of the “madonnari” (pavement artists) on the outside walls of their museum.

[*] Photo of the crocodile taken from Google due to an error during the visit.

A bit of history:
As early as 1037 amidst reeds and marshy areas an oratory stood with a venerated image of the Virgin and Child.
In 1188 a dam was built, thus forming the Mantua lakes. The subsequent construction of canals favored the cultivation of cane and willow, crucial for the local economy.
The foundations of the sanctuary were laid at the end of the 14th century, at the behest of Francesco Gonzaga, and around it a fishermen's village arose.
In 1810, the Napoleonic government suppressed the convent and the buildings were sold or demolished.
In 1848, the historic Battle of Curtatone and Montanara was fought here.
In 1973 there was the first gathering of madonnari (Madonna painters).
In 2011, the village was included in the list of “Borghi più belli d’Italia” (Italy's Most Beautiful Villages).

For more info:
Grazie first part
www.borgodigrazie.it
www.curtatone.it: il santuario b.v. maria delle grazie
www.curtatone.it: i madonnari, passato e presente