Things to do in Mantua
Welcome to Mantua
Mantua’s glory hasn’t faded since the Gonzaga dynasty made this city the seat of its power during the Renaissance. Known as “La Bella Addormentata” (Sleeping Beauty), its intact old town has been protected by a ring of artificial lakes for almost 1,000 years. Today, the centro storico is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and tours of architectural treasures like the Ducal Palace, Palazzo Te, and Teatro Bibiena top the list of things to do, along with cooking classes to make tortelli di zucca (pumpkin ravioli) and other local specialties.
Top 3 attractions in Mantua
Ducale Palace (Palazzo Ducale Mantova)
Te Palace (Palazzo Te)
Piazza delle Erbe
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A local’s pocket guide to Mantua
A sucker for a great castle, travel and culture writer Rebecca always hits the brakes for Mantua, where the Renaissance art inside seals the deal.
check to see if there is a performance at the sumptuous 18th-century Teatro Bibiena that once hosted the 13-year-old Mozart scheduled during your visit.
is spent getting lost in the remarkably preserved and delightful compact old town, kept intact by the ring of artificial lakes that have protected it for almost 1,000 years.
the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), a treasure trove of Renaissance art and architecture. If its sheer size seems overwhelming, head straight to the Bridal Chamber (Camera degli Sposi), the headliner.
spend some time taking in the street life from an outdoor café table in Piazza Sordello, where the tony residents of Mantua go to see and be seen.
cross the bridge to the Rocca di Sparafucile fortress set on the opposite side of the lake to watch the sun set behind Mantua’s old town.
is assuming that Mantua isn’t worth a stop. This bite-sized town is an ideal way to break up the trip between Milan and Venice and a worthwhile day trip from Verona, Lake Garda, Bologna, or Modena.
People Also Ask
Mantua is famous for being one of the birthplaces of opera and for its Renaissance-era architectural treasures. The best-known example of Mantuan architecture is the Ducal Palace (in reality, more of a village than a palace), which consists of numerous palatial apartments linked by gardens and courtyards.
...MoreAn unsung jewel in Lombardy’s crown, Mantua is well worth a visit. Because it’s not on many international tourists’ radars, the city isn’t full of packed streets and souvenir shops; it’s a great place to get a more authentic look at Italian city life. The food and architecture also stand out.
...MoreBoth names apply to this city. Mantova is what the city is called in Italian while Mantua is what the city is called in Latin, in the local dialect, and in foreign languages, such as English. Both versions of the name are commonly used by both tourists and locals.
...MoreIt’s roughly 21 miles (33 kilometers) from Verona to Mantua, as the crow flies. Driving from one to the other takes about 45 minutes (accounting for traffic around the city centers). High-speed trains take about 45 minutes, and regional trains take around 2 hours.
...MoreWhile many say Mantua was founded in Etruscan times, the old city as you see it today was mostly built during the Renaissance. Some of the older Ducal Palace buildings are thought to predate this period; they were likely built in the 13th and 14th centuries.
...MoreThe original island settlement, on the banks of the Mincio River, is thought to have been founded around 2000 BC. Many historians, however, argue that the city really began during the Etruscan period; Etruscan settlements in the area date back as far as 750 BC.
...MoreMantua information
Number of Attractions | 3 |
|---|---|
Number of Tours | 26 |
Number of Reviews | 128 |
Currency | EUR |
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