Issued by Italy in 1997, this striking 800 lire stamp pays homage to Sordello da Goito, the 13th-century troubadour and poet from Mantua, celebrated by Dante in the Purgatorio. The design, by E. Donnini, reproduces a richly illuminated medieval motif preserved in the Museo di Palazzo d’Arco in Mantova. The artwork features a regal seated figure surrounded by intricate floral and symbolic patterns in vivid reds, blues, and golds—typical of Italian Renaissance illumination. This issue highlights Italy’s deep cultural heritage and its devotion to art and poetry.