Mantua, or Mantova, is a beautiful historic city in northern Italy, surrounded on three sides by lakes. It was one of the largest Renaissance Courts in Europe and the home of the wealthy Gonzaga family. The center of the city is three spacious and lively squares that come together. In 2008, Mantova became a World Heritage Site based on its Renaissance planning and architecture and is part of the UNESCO Quadrangle, a district of historic cities in northeastern Italy.
Location
Mantua is located between Bologna and Parma in the northern Italian region of Lombardy, not far from the Po River. It has an altitude of 19 meters and its area is 63 square kilometers. By car, it is close to the A22 motorway.
Tourist Office
The Mantua tourist office is close to the Sant’Andrea church in Piazza Mantegna 6, one of the 3 central squares.
Train and bus stations
The train station is located in Piazza Don Leoni, at the end of Via Solferino e S. Martino, in the southwest of the city. It is about a 10 minute walk from the station to the center of Mantua. The bus station is in Piazzale A Mondadori, near the train station.
Food Specialties
Pike in green sauce, luccio in sauce , is a specialty of Mantua. A special pasta from Mantua is tortelli di zucca , a tortelli stuffed with pumpkin or pumpkin, ground amaretti cookies and mostard . As Mantua is located in the rice growing region, you will also find excellent risotto dishes.
Attractions
Check the Mantova map to see the location of the main attractions in the city.
- Palazzo Ducale, home to the Gonzaga family from the late 13th to the early 17th centuries, is a large complex of buildings, courtyards, and gardens. There are more than 500 rooms, the most famous being the Camera degli Sposi with frescoes from 1474 painted by Mantegna. The Palazzo is closed on Mondays and reservations are recommended).
- The Palazzo Te, another Gonzaga palace created by Giulio Romano, also has beautiful frescoes, including some erotic frescoes.
- The Duomo, St. Peter’s Cathedral, was also decorated by Giulio Romana in 1545.
- The Basilica of Sant’Andrea houses the tomb of the painter Andrea Mantegna. There is also a much-disputed relic: vessels said to contain the blood of Christ.
- The Rotunda of San Lorenzo, a circular Rotunda from the 11th century, is believed to be on the site of a Roman temple of Venus.
- Squares – Spend some time in the beautiful Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza Sordello, the center of Mantua. They are full of cafes and several good restaurants.
- Near Mantua : Grazie has one of the most unusual churches you can find. The town of Grazie is by the water, and there is a pier with sightseeing boat tours during the summer and on weekends in late spring.
