“Castrum ab estivis” (this is its Latin name) was founded by the Etruscans; during the Middle Ages, it underwent the Longobardic domination (568 - 774 d.C.). Later, Mantua, Milan and Verona disputed for it because of its strategical position, till marquis Ferrante Gonzaga made it an autonomous princedom in 1478; then it had its own court, government building and mint. During that period, they built its Renaissance centre. Castiglione is world known for being Saint Aloysius Gonzaga's home town; he was born here in 1568, canonized in 1726, and today he is the world patron of young people and of the Red Cross – which was devised just here by Henry Dunant in 1859, as a consequence of Solferino and San Martino battle.