What to see in Mantova, an Unesco World Heritage city: Virgil’s birthplace is keeping Mantegna’s works and is rich of history, culture and architecture!
Mantova is built around 3 lakes, fed by the river Mincio: this makes it a real “water city” in the centre of the Po Valley, with an extraordinary view especially if you look from the San Giorgio Bridge. The red sunset and the reflection in the water of Palazzo Ducale, of the Sant’Andrea dome and of the bell towers, give to the city an elegant and exciting touch.
Mantova owes its splendour to the Gonzaga family, of humble origins, that from the 1328 to the 1707 became first lords, than marquises and in the end dukes of the city. Loving art, literature and music, the Gonzagas made Mantova a jewel of the Italian Renaissance visible from generation to generation in all its palaces, monuments, churches, culture and traditions.
Mantova is an enchanting city: in 2008 it was nominated Unesco World Cultural Heritage, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and in 2016 it was elected also Italian Capital of Culture.
Reasons are easy to be understood when you see the splendid artistic, urban and architectural realisations scattered around the city. There are numerous palaces, churches, museums and places of artistic and cultural interest in Mantova.
It’s also easy to understand why Vip Limousine, luxury car rental with driver in Milan, is organising personalised tours in Mantova with our wonderful cars with driver: every stop-over chosen is based on the desire of the Client and every itinerary is unique and unforgettable and could be planned also with a guide and personalised tourist assistance with our multilingual assistants.
1 - Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale is an unparalleled majestic monumental and architectural complex situated in the North-Eastern part of the city between the ancient Piazza Sordello and the lower lake’s shore.
Inside it, you travel through 4 centuries, from 1320 to 1707, passing from the Medieval style to the Renaissance and in the end to the neoclassicism.
The wonderful Palazzo Ducale is where Gonzaga family’s power was born and has developed. It’s one of the most extended Court palaces in Europe.
Residence of the Gonzaga’s family for more than 4 centuries, from the inside of the more than 500 rooms is possible to admire many treasures of the Renaissance as Tintoretto, Pisanello, Tiziano and Andrea Mantegna, the Court painter.
2 - Palazzo Te
Palazzo Te was built in the 16th century by the architect Giulio Romano, commissioned by the marquise Federico II Gonzaga, who was desiring an abode for entertainment and recreation, destined to host important guests.
It’ll be easy to immerse yourself in the splendour of that period visiting the wide halls, gardens, stables and secret passages. In the Sala Grande dei Cavalli, dei Giganti and di Amore e Psiche you’ll feel a surreal and mythological atmosphere. Federico II Gonzaga, thanks to this Palace, in 1530 got the noble title of duke from Carlo V.
The name of the palace comes from one of the islands once existing on the Mantova canal, the island of Tejeto, abbreviated in "Te".
The jewels of the palace are the sublimely frescoed halls: we have to cite the famous Sala dei Giganti, with classical scenes of groups of Titans and ancient pagan divinities, the Sala Di Amore e Psiche and the Sala dei Cavalli, with frescos of the Gonzaga’s stables.
Inside, the Palace hosts the Civic Museum of Mantova.
3 - San Giorgio’s Castle and the Camera degli sposi
Another symbol of the Gonzaga family’s power in Mantova is San Giorgio’s Castle incorporated in the mighty Palazzo Ducale.
You’ll find yourself in front of a square building composed of 4 corner towers and surrounded by a moat with 3 doors and their drawbridges, designed to defend the city.
San Giorgio’s Castle was born as a defensive building at the end of the 14th century, it’s recognisable for its 4 towers, the North-eastern of which hosts the famous Camera degli Sposi, proof of the Court life in the 16th century, situated in the apartments of Isabella d'Este with frescoed walls and ceiling vaults, realised by Andrea Mantegna.
4 - Sant'Andrea’s Cathedral
Sant’Andrea’s Cathedral, designed by Leon Battista Alberti, rises up on other 2 churches previously built in honour of the Saint that found again the remains of the Holy Blood, many times lost in the centuries.
Constructed in 3 centuries and finished in 1772, the Cathedral conserves the biggest relics of Christianity: the Sacred Vessels containing the Blood of Christ.
The crypt conserves, with a sophisticated mechanism with 12 keys, the relics that are taken out only in occasion of the Good Friday.
The church was lastly restructured definitively starting from 1472, on the base of Leon Battista Alberti’s project, also if artist’s death and the following changes totally altered the Renaissance structure.
5 - Rotonda di San Lorenzo
The Rotonda di San Lorenzo is the most ancient Church of Mantova.
It’s built in the image of Church of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, with a central plan and a Matroneum on the top. The Church of the “Rotonda”, as familiarly called by people from Mantova, is dedicated to San Lorenzo.
It’s an example of Romantic art and is composed by a semi-circular apse showing frescoes of Byzantine art.
Because of an edict of Guglielmo Gonzaga the Church was closed to worship in 1579 and included in private dwellings.
In 1908 the dwelling that had been hiding it to the sight and to history was dismantled, bringing it back to its original appearance.
6 - Piazza Sordello and the Cathedral
Piazza Sordello is dedicated to Sordello by Goito, a poet from Mantova from the 13th century and is the biggest square of Mantova: heart of the historical center of the city, realised in 1330 after the demolition of some old houses.
The Cathedral of Mantova, or Cattedrale di San Pietro, is located in Piazza Sordello, at the North side, not far from Palazzo Ducale and from the co-cathedral of Sant’Andrea; it’s one of the most ancient buildings of the city and the main place of worship.
The Cathedral of Mantova presents, in its wall structure, traces of different architectural styles, testifying its long historical past; symbols of the overlapping of several styles are: the Romantic bell tower, the late-baroque façade and the Gothic right side wall in red cotto tiles.
Inside the Church are buried the most important members of the Gonzaga family. Next to the Cathedral you can see the Tower at the end of the square, while on the left you can see Palazzo Vescovile, Palazzo degli Uberti, Palazzo Castiglioni and Palazzo Acerbi with Torre della Gabbia.
On the other side of the square are raising the suggestive figures of Palazzo del Capitano and of the Magna Domus, original nucleus of Palazzo Ducale.
7 - Piazza delle Erbe
The neuralgic centre of the city is Piazza delle Erbe (The herbs square), so called because it has been hosting for long time the fresh fruit and vegetable market.
Located right next to the Sant’Andrea Cathedral, it’s one of the most ancient squares of Mantova.
Nowadays the commercial and touristic heart of Mantova is characterised by the little workshops under the porticos and by the many small tables of coffees and the restaurants.
Starting from the Rotonda di San Lorenzo, at the last corner on the right you’ll find the Casa del Mercante while on the left of the Rotonda is raising the Astronomical Clock Tower and next to it, Palazzo della Ragione. The square ends with Palazzo del Podestà, also said “Palazzo del Broletto”.
8 - Sabbioneta, the ideal city
A little urban jewel of outstanding value: this is Sabbioneta, born from the humanistic dream of Vespasiano Gonzaga, an illuminated prince and follower of Vitruvio.
This ideal city was built from nothing during the second half of the 16th century, based on the model of the ancient cities of the classical world.
On the 7th of July 2008, Sabbioneta was listed, together with Mantova, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptionality as a planned community built in approximately 35 years by prince Vespasiano Gonzaga Colonna’s will.
In UNESCO’s opinion, Sabbioneta represents a perfect example of application of the Renaissance theories on how a ideal city has to be projected.
Today, Sabbioneta is listed as one of the Borghi più belli d’Italia (the most beautiful villages of Italy) and is often defined as the "Little Athens": and it’s no coincidence! Exactly here you’ll find the Olympic Theatre, the first built in modern age (from 1588 to 1590), but old-fashioned.
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