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Feb 11, 2024 · The truth is, Mantua is an Italy hidden gem that makes for the perfect half-day or day trip addition to your northern Italy itinerary. It’s small and sweet, and the fact that the best things to do in Mantua are all so close to each other means you can get a lot of this town in little time.
Apr 1, 2024 · The city of Mantua, also known as Mantova, has a population of 48,000 and is located in Lombardy, Italy. Together with Sabbioneta, it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It was once the capital of the Gonzaga Dukes, one of the most powerful families of the Renaissance.
- The Best Things to Do in Mantua
- Explore The Palazzo Ducale
- Relax For A Bit in The Piazza Sordello
- Be Awed by The Basilica Di Sant’Andrea
- Take Photos of Mantua’s Beautiful Clock Tower
- Admire The Rotonda Di San Lorenzo
- Step Into The Teatro Bibiena
- Wander The Pretty Streets
- Take in The Beauty of Palazzo Te
- Take A Walk by Mantua’s Lakes
The powerful Gonzaga family ruled Mantua from the early part of the 14th century until the start of the 18th century. Under the Gonzagas, art, architecture, and music flourished in Mantova. Mantua has some stellar sights that are more than enough to keep you happily engaged for the day, but no overwhelming list of attractions to check off. One day ...
The Ducal Palace in Mantua is grand: a mini city within a city! A complex of buildings with several hundred rooms, its own church and bell tower, beautiful courtyards, towers, and gardens, the Palazzo Ducale was constructed between the 14th and 17th centuries. The Castello di San Giorgio, with it four towers, is a part of the complex that you must ...
Just outside the Palazzo Ducale is the historic Piazza Sordello, where you can rest for a bit with a drink at one of the restaurants. The square is a great spot for people watching. Piazza Sordello is the oldest square in Mantova. One entire side of the huge square is lined by the Palazzo Ducale. The square also houses the Mantua Cathedral, with it...
The Basilica di Sant’Andrea is thechurch to visit in Mantua. In medieval times, pilgrims would come here to view a vial believed to contain drops of Christ’s blood collected during the crucifixion. Begun in the 15th century under the patronage of Ludovico III Gonzaga, the church was only completed three centuries later. It has a fabulous arched ent...
Standing in the Piazza delle Erbe, Mantua’s Torre dell’Orologio is gorgeous. The tower was built in 1472, and the astronomical clock was designed by Bartolomeo Manfredi in 1473. The clock, one of the first mechanical ones ever made, was designed to show not just the time of day but also the phases of the moon, the positions of the planets, and the ...
Also in the Piazza delle Erbe you will see the beautiful red Rotonda di San Lorenzo, the oldest church in Mantua. Built in the 11th century, the church has since been deconsecrated. The Romanesque facade is graceful in its simplicity. The circular design is said to have been inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Inside you will...
Famous as the theater where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed at the age of 13, the Teatro Bibiena is gorgeous. The late Baroque / early Rococo theater is intimate in size, holding an audience of just 363 people. The bell-shaped theater is beautifully decorated, in shades of brown, white, red and gold. The architecture is stunning. Step inside and ...
Mantua’s historical center is pretty and very walkable. Wandering the streets is one of our favorite activities in any European town, and Mantua didn’t disappoint as we strolled around. Admire the beautiful architecture, pop into any churches that are open for a look around, and take in the lively squares, where you will see more locals than touris...
Palazzo Te is a bit of a walk from the Piazza delle Erbe, but it is worth the effort, especially if you enjoy art. Built in the 16th century as a leisure palace for Federico II Gonzaga, Palazzo Te was designed by Giulio Romano. Sadly, the palace was looted in 1630, so the rooms are empty. But the reason you should visit are the beautiful frescoes t...
Mantua is fringed on three sides by three artificial lakes, created in the 12th century as part of the defense system. The lakes are fed by the Mincio River. There was a fourth lake that completed the circular defense system, but it has since dried up. Today you can take a walk (or ride a bike) along the waterfront. Depending on the time you have l...
- Piazzas in Mantua’s Historic Center. Mantua has four interlinking main squares: Piazza Sordello, Piazza Erbe, Piazza Mantegna, and Piazza Broletto. The squares are all flanked with magnificent Renaissance buildings.
- Palazzo Ducal. The Ducal Palace, or Palazzo Ducale, is Mantua’s top attraction. It’s the second largest residential building in Europe, after the Vatican.
- Mantegna’s Masterpiece: Mantegna’s Camera degli Sposi. The absolute highlight of the Ducal Palace is the Camera degli Sposi, a Renaissance masterpiece painted by Mantua’s court painter, Andrea Mantegna.
- Castel San Giorgio. Built between 1390 and 1406, the Castle San Giorgio began life as a medieval fortress. Ludovico I converted it into an opulent residence in the 15th century.
Apr 12, 2023 · Like a local. April 12, 2023. Mantua is a tiny medieval city that punches way above its weight in history, architectural splendor, and delicious cuisine. Considered one of the main artistic and cultural hubs in Northern Italy, its centro storico, or historical city center, and nearby Sabbioneta form a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Apr 28, 2023 · Mantua, otherwise known as Mantova in Italian, is a city in Lombardy. It’s also the capital of the province of Mantova. Mantua’s old town and the town of Sabbioneta became a UNESCO World Heritage Site as Renaissance towns ruled by the Gonzaga family. In 2016, Mantua was selected as the Italian Capital of Culture.
UNESCO heritage since 2008 and Capital of Culture in 2016, Mantua is surely worth visiting. The amazing typical food – tortelli di zucca and agnoli to name a few – and the cultural heritage make Mantua an ideal destination for a day trip from Milan, Venice or Verona!
