Mantua (Mantova) is surrounded on three sides by lakes formed by the Mincio River and was one of Renaissance Europe's most cultured courts. The Gonzaga family ruled for nearly 400 years and commissioned Leonardo, Mantegna, Giulio Romano and others. The Palazzo Ducale's Camera degli Sposi is one of the masterpieces of Italian art. Mantua is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Sabbioneta.
| Travel time | 1.5 hours by Trenitalia train |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Type: Train; Details: Trenitalia from Milano Centrale to Mantova; hourly service; Cost: €11.50; Duration: 1hr 30min |
Suggested itinerary
- Train to Mantua. Palazzo Ducale (book ahead for Camera degli Sposi). Lunch with tortelli di zucca. Piazza Sordello and Piazza delle Erbe stroll. Palazzo Te in the afternoon. Return train.
Weather through the year in Italy
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Italy.
Highlights
- Palazzo Ducale and Camera degli Sposi by Mantegna
- Palazzo Te (Gonzaga summer palace, Giulio Romano)
- Piazza Sordello and Piazza delle Erbe
- Lake views from the Ponte San Giorgio
- Tortelli di zucca lunch in a traditional osteria
- Rotonda di San Lorenzo (oldest church in Mantua)
Tips for visiting
- Book Camera degli Sposi tickets well in advance — capacity is limited
- Mantua is famous for tortelli di zucca (pumpkin pasta) — eat it at Il Cigno or Osteria Stallo del Pomodoro
- Add Sabbioneta as a half-day extension (20km west by bus) for the UNESCO ideal Renaissance city