• Villages
    • Unesco Sites
    • Art & Culture

Sabbioneta

Sabbioneta represents Vespasiano Gonzaga's dream come true: an ideal Renaissance city on the outskirts of Mantova.

Timbre Siti Unesco Here you can stamp
your passport
SITI UNESCO #inLombardia
Where
Sabbioneta (MN)
Contacts
+39 0375 223011
Official site
Infopoint
Infopoint Sabbioneta
Via Teatro Olimpico, 2, Sabbioneta (MN)
+39 0375 221044

Sabbioneta is a hidden treasure of Renaissance architecture located in the province of Mantua.  This quaint town encapsulates an extraordinary cultural heritage and offers a unique experience. It is situated on a sandy strip of land (hence the name of the village) surrounded by the Po and Oglio rivers. 

 

Its cobbled streets, welcoming squares, and magnificent palaces bear witness to the creative genius of Vespasiano Gonzaga Colonna that transformed Sabbioneta into a perfect example of an ideal Renaissance city.
The urban layout of Sabbioneta, resembling a six-pointed star, stands as an extraordinary example of Renaissance architectural planning, meticulously designed with geometric precision and aesthetic beauty that make it truly unique. 
Sabbioneta's streets are laid out in an orthogonal grid, forming a network of wide and straight roads.  This arrangement not only bestows a sense of visual order but also facilitates movement throughout the city. The main buildings and squares are strategically placed along this grid, giving rise to a harmonious and practical urban structure.  The shapes, proportions, and dimensions create a subtly alchemical beauty (hinging on the numbers 6 and 12, evident in the hexagonal walls or the cosmological significance of the sun at zenith on December 6 – Vespasiano's birthday – when it entered the Ducal Palace).
At the heart of the city, one finds the main square and the majestic Ducal Palace, which, with its inner courtyards and refined embellishments, embodies the power and splendor of the era.  
A remarkable highlight is the Teatro all'Antica, a masterpiece of Renaissance theatre architecture. This theatre was specifically designed for exceptional acoustics, providing an intimate and captivating experience that is still enjoyed today.
In addition to its main thoroughfares, Sabbioneta is embraced by well-preserved defensive walls that contribute to the preservation of its historical character and distinctive ambiance. 
Sabbioneta has been defined as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an award that comes as no surprise given its exceptional state of preservation and cultural significance.
A visit to Sabbioneta is akin to a journey into the past, offering a full immersion into the life and art of the Renaissance. The city beckons exploration between architecture, culture, and history, all while being charmed by the unspoiled beauty of this Italian jewel.
Sabbioneta is also a certified municipality bearing the Orange Flag designation from the Touring Club Italiano, and it holds the title of being one of Italy's most beautiful villages.
 

 

Take me here: Sabbioneta

Places

Cities of Mantua and Sabbioneta

  • Unesco Sites
Cities of Mantua and Sabbioneta
435 mt

Sanctuary of the Lady of the Fountain

  • Art & Culture
Sanctuary of the Lady of the Fountain
4.04 km

Duomo of Casalmaggiore

The Duomo stands majestically at the end of Via Favagrossa. It is a neoclassical building, built in the mid-nineteenth century
  • Religious Tourism
Duomo of Casalmaggiore
5.27 km

Santa Chiara Monastery

Magnificent sixteenth-century complex of 10,000 square meters, formerly the Clarisse Monastery, today a modern multi-purpose structure
  • Religious Tourism
Santa Chiara Monastery
5.27 km

Casalmaggiore’s Cathedral

The Cathedral is located at the end of Favagrossa Street. It is a Neo-Classical building built at the half of the 19th Century.
  • Art & Culture
Casalmaggiore’s Cathedral
5.52 km

Museo del Bijou

The realm of costume jewelery
  • Art & Culture
Museo del Bijou
5.58 km

Diotti Museum

  • Art & Culture
Diotti Museum
5.62 km

Piazza Garibaldi in Casalmaggiore

  • Art & Culture
Piazza Garibaldi in Casalmaggiore
5.62 km

Garibaldi Square in Casalmaggiore

  • Art & Culture
Garibaldi Square in Casalmaggiore
5.71 km

The Park of the Po Plain

  • Cycle Tourism
The Park of the Po Plain
6.31 km

Commessaggio

  • Villages
Commessaggio
6.35 km

Mina della Scala Castle

Built at the end of the 16th Century to welcome the noble family Schizzi during the Summer, it offers a wonderful landscape
  • Art & Culture
Mina della Scala Castle
10.68 km

Pomponesco

  • Villages
Pomponesco (MN)
11.42 km

San Matteo delle Chiaviche

The major drainage plant highlights the value of the precious water resources in the vast surrounding region.
  • Villages
San Matteo delle Chiaviche
11.54 km

San Zavedro Church

  • Art & Culture
San Zavedro Church
12.06 km

Santissima Trinità Church

  • Art & Culture
Santissima Trinità Church
12.73 km

Villa Medici del Vascello

The villa was acquired by the municipality of San Giovanni in Croce in 2005
  • Art & Culture
Villa Medici del Vascello
12.78 km

Medici del Vascello Villa

Since 2005, the villa and the garden have been owned by the Municipality of San Giovanni in Croce and in 2014 they were opened again.
  • Art & Culture
Medici del Vascello Villa
12.8 km

Torre d'Oglio

A barge bridge full of charm, which has left an indelible mark on the territory's history.
  • Villages
Torre d'Oglio
13.82 km

Where to sleep

HOTEL IL DUCA BARBABLU

SABBIONETA
HOTEL IL DUCA BARBABLU
384 mt

GIULIA GONZAGA

Sabbioneta
GIULIA GONZAGA
463 mt

TOSON D'ORO

Sabbioneta
TOSON D'ORO
488 mt

LUNA RESIDENCE HOUSE SABBIONETA

Sabbioneta
LUNA RESIDENCE HOUSE SABBIONETA
510 mt

DA NINA

Sabbioneta
DA NINA
822 mt

VILLA CANTONI MARCA

SABBIONETA
VILLA CANTONI MARCA
942 mt

HOTEL BIFI

Casalmaggiore
HOTEL BIFI
2.9 km

HOTEL DELLE INDUSTRIE

Casalmaggiore
HOTEL DELLE INDUSTRIE
4.46 km

LA ROTONDA

Casalmaggiore
LA ROTONDA
5.06 km

CASTRAMAJORA ALLOGGI

CASALMAGGIORE
CASTRAMAJORA ALLOGGI
5.4 km

AGRITURISMO IL SOLE

Rivarolo del Re ed Uniti
AGRITURISMO IL SOLE
5.51 km

OSTELLO BREDA

Rivarolo del Re ed Uniti
OSTELLO BREDA
5.51 km

IL BIJOU

Casalmaggiore
IL BIJOU
5.54 km

LUNA RESIDENCE HOTEL

Casalmaggiore
LUNA RESIDENCE HOTEL
5.69 km

LA VELA

Viadana
LA VELA
5.93 km

AL TORRAZZO DA ANNA

Commessaggio
AL TORRAZZO DA ANNA
6.35 km

CORTE CODELLA NUOVA

Viadana
CORTE CODELLA NUOVA
6.39 km

CORTE DONDA

VIADANA
CORTE DONDA
6.47 km

CORTE LIDIA

Viadana
CORTE LIDIA
6.93 km

MOTEL GIGLIO

Viadana
MOTEL GIGLIO
7.04 km