Mantua gets overlooked by most travellers. It is not as popular as the closeby destinations of Verona and Lake Garda, which are only 40km North, but this city is a little gem in the North of Italy. Surrounded by artificial lakes created nearly 1,000 years ago, that kept the city quite secluded, Mantua is small and easy to visit, a perfect weekend getaway! Everything is a walkable distance. For instance, a walk across town can take as little as 30 minutes.
Here is a list of the best things to see and do while there!
Visit Palazzo Te
Palazzo Te was the location where Frederico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua at the beginning of the 16th century, secretly met with his lover Isabella Boschetti. Stunning frescos, playful motifs and encoded symbols decorate the whole palace. Above all, it is the finest work of the architect Giulio Romano, Raphael’s most gifted student at the time.
The most spectacular room of the palace is the stunning Camera dei Giganti (Chamber of the Giants). This domed room features frescoes with towering figures of the rebellious giants unleashing the wrath of Jupiter. The effect is spectacular. First, stand in the centre of the room, then look up and admire the worried faces of Olympian gods staring down at you.
You can purchase your tickets at the tickets office of the palace. Entrance costs €12 per person and includes entry to Palazzo San Sebastiano, the city municipal museum.
Tip – You can take the free shuttle bus service from the city centre to Palazzo Te, or you can walk there. The bus takes 10 minutes while the walk takes 20-30 minutes, but it’s a very pleasant walk throughout the city centre.
Visit Ducale Palace and Castello San Giorgio
For more than 300 years Palazzo Ducale was the seat of the Gonzaga family, who rose to power in the 14th century to become one of Italy’s leading Renaissance families. The palace hosts 500-room and is 35,000-sq-metre vast. A visit of the palace winds through 40 of the finest chambers split into three historical parts: the Corte Vecchia, the Corte Nuova and the Castello di San Giorgio. In addition, you can also visit the Giardino dei Semplici, the outside courtyard.
Along with works by Morone and Rubens, the highlight of the palace is certainly the fresco by Mantegna in the Camera degli Sposi (Bridal Chamber).
Tip – Entrance to the Palazzo Ducale is free the first Sunday of each month (October to March).
Cross the San Giorgio Bridge and Enjoy the View
Exit from Palazzo Ducale and head towards the lake. Cross the San Giorgio bridge and head to Rocca di Sparafucile from where you can enjoy a great view of the city of Mantua. In fact, it is a pleasant 20 minutes’ walk.
Tip – For great pictures, head there at sunset.
Piazza Sordello
Piazza Sordello is the oldest square in Mantua. It houses the beautiful Palazzo Ducale, the Cathedral, and the red-brick Torre della Gabbia. The Tower dates back to the 13th century. If you look up, you will see the dangling cage (gabbia) where people that offended the authorities were incarcerated back then.
Mantua Cathedral
Rebuilt after a fire in the 16th century, this Neoclassical cathedral features three styles: late-baroque, gothic and Romanesque. However, it gets often overlooked for the magnificent Basilica di Sant’Andrea.
Visit the beautiful Basilica di Sant’Andrea
The church was commissioned to Leon Battista Alberti by Ludovico II Gonzaga in 1472. The facade was erected in the mid-18th century, while the decoration inside was completed by Giulio Romano in 1545. Its vast interior is a single nave free from pillars.
The first chapel on the left contains the tomb of Andrea Mantegna, the man responsible for Mantua’s most famous paintings. This towering basilica safeguards the golden vessels said to hold earth soaked by the blood of Christ.
Spend some time admiring Piazza delle Erbe
This lively square used to house Mantua’s vegetable market. Many beautiful and important buildings surround this square, such as the 13th-century Palazzo della Ragione with its 15th-century clock tower, the 13th-century Palazzo Podestà, as well as Mantua’s oldest church, the 11th-century Rotonda di San Lorenzo.
- Palazzo della Ragione was once the seat of the power in Mantua, where justice was administered, and it is now used as an exhibition space.
- Torre dell’orologio, the adjacent tower, was built in 1472 and the astronomical clock was then added in 1493. The clock marks the phases of the moon, the days suitable for the various work activities and the position of the sun in the zodiac signs. Quite an impressive achievement for that era!
- Palazzo Podestà was commissioned by Duke Ludovico Gonzaga. For centuries it served as the town hall but is currently under renovation after suffering damage in the 2012 earthquake.
- The Merchant House. The building was commissioned by Giovanni Boniforte da Concorezzo, a wealthy textile merchant who settled in Mantua in 1455. The three-storey building was both a shop on the lower floor and a house on the upper floor. The prestigious shop was specialized in the trade of the most refined fabrics imported from Venice.
- Rotonda San Lorenzo. The round church dedicated to Saint Lawrence is one of the most original buildings of Lombard Romanesque architecture in town. It was built between 1050 and 1151 and it is entirely made of bricks. Entry to the church is free, but they accept donations to help with the renovation works.
Rigoletto’s House
This building was the home of the legendary court jester Rigoletto, the protagonist of the famous opera by Giuseppe Verdi. It is a building of medieval origin featuring a small courtyard with the statue of Rigoletto at its centre.
Discover the historic sights on a walking tour
Where To Stay in Mantua
Mantua is a really compact city. In fact, you can easily walk around it in one day. However, I recommend staying in the historic city centre. Lakes surround it and therefore there is a great atmosphere! In addition, here you can find the most amazing food and restaurants in town!
Booking.comHow To Get To Mantua
The closest airport is Verona. From there, you can get a train to Mantua. The trip takes about 45 minutes.
Check out What & Where To Eat In Mantua
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