• Art & Culture
    • Cycle Tourism
    • Lifestyle

What to Do in Mantua and surroundings

I f you're in the Mantua area, make sure you pay a visit to Sabbioneta. The town was designed in accordance with the renaissance principles of the "ideal city" by patron of the arts prince Vespasiano Gonzaga in 1556, and was built following an urban layout based on the modern and functional vision of the renaissance.

Mantua and Sabbioneta were both recognised as UNESCO sites in 2008. The stunning Palazzo Ducale has a long white marble portico and the Teatro all'Antica is Europe's oldest free-standing theatre. The remains of other Gonzaga residences can also be found in other towns such as Revere, Castel Goffredo and Pomponesco.

The Mantua area has some of Italy's most beautiful little towns. These include the fortified village of Castellaro Lagusello (veiled in a heavy Virgilian atmosphere and complete with a large gateway at the entrance that used to have a drawbridge until the 18th century) and San Benedetto del Po, which is famous for the Polirone Abbey, also known as the Lombard Cluny.

Canneto sull'Oglio is a real never-never land. Its famous Toy Museum has over 1,000 objects on display, including dolls, rocking horses, toy carts, wooden puppets, tin cars, building games and marionettes.

This area is great if you like cycling and there are lots of long cycle paths to match all levels of ability, from beginner to expert. The Mantua – Peschiera cycle path takes you through some stunningly beautiful landscape. This 42.5 km panoramic cycle trail is great for families with little children too and it follows the River Mincio along to Lake Garda.

When it comes to Mantua's food, pumpkin rules over all other ingredients and is used in the preparation of delicious tortellini, bread, veggie balls and fritters. Other local dishes include risotto alla mantovana (risotto with sausage), pasta con fagioli e salsicce (pasta with sausage and beans) and stufato alla mantovana (Mantua stew). Mantua's most famous cake is the Torta Sbrisolona or Torta delle tre tazze (a "three-cup" cake that uses equal quantities of white flour, yellow flour and sugar, measured out in cups). Mostarda (preserved spiced fruits) is served with meat-based first and second courses.
The area's most famous wines include Lambrusco Mantovano and  Garda Colli Mantovani wines.

Take me here: What to Do in Mantua and surroundings

On the same topic

Lomello and its Christian buildings

Village of strategical importance since ancient times, here you can discover the great Romanesque Lombard architecture
  • Art & Culture
Lomello and its Christian buildings

San Pietro a Gemonio

This church is one of the points that remain more etched in the memory of the travelers who travel the Varese-Laveno
  • Art & Culture
San Pietro a Gemonio and the Salvini Museum in Cocquio Trevisago

Summer Guided Tours to the Town's Museums

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday till the end of August
  • Art & Culture
Summer Guided Tours to the Town's Museums

Bergamo in a weekend

A perfect square, the masterpieces of the Carrara Academy, the Venetian Walls Unesco World Heritage Site. Discover Bergamo!
  • Art & Culture
Bergamo in a weekend

Milan, a novel city

Discovering the writers of the past, between the places and the atmospheres of Milan that have inspired great masterpieces of literature
  • Art & Culture
Milan, a novel city

The Winter Songs

The legend of the coldest days in the year
  • Art & Culture
The Winter Songs

Castles and fortifications around Lake Como

Several testimonies of a past rich in history, all to discover
  • Art & Culture
@primalavaltellina.it

Lombardy in Paintings by Great Italian Artists

The paintings that most beautifully capture Lombardy's scenery, an immersion in the region's landscapes and cityscapes
  • Art & Culture
La Lombardia nei quadri dei grandi pittori italiani

Brianza Villas Itinerary

  • Art & Culture
Villa Gallarati Scotti (Oreno di Vimercate)

Angera and the Open Air Museum

A beautiful lakefront and a very picturesque aura in the province of Varese
  • Art & Culture
Visit Angera and surroundings: some tips

Sondrio, the legend of Orlando

Castel Masegra is an imposing building which sits atop a 60m-tall rock, dominating the Sondrio skyline
  • Art & Culture
Sondrio Castello Masegra

What to Do in Mantua and surroundings

Discovering the wonders of Mantua and surroundings
  • Art & Culture
What to do in Mantua

Diocesan Museum

Pre-view of the exhibited art-works
  • Art & Culture
Diocesan Museum

Bergamo Photo Gallery

An area to be discovered and visited
  • Art & Culture
Discovering Bergamo from A to Z

Lago di Iseo: history, nature and…

From the recently rediscovered Roman spa in Predore to the Liberty architecture of Sarnico, via the enchanting town of Lovere and surprising natural phenomena
  • Art & Culture
Lago di Iseo cultura, natura e...

Top 10 must see works of art in lombardy

  • Art & Culture
Top 10 must see works of art in lombardy

Museums Cremona

The museums, a meeting with the culture and with the history of Cremona
  • Art & Culture
Museums Cremona, discovering Lombardy

The Legend of the Giubiana

The Giubiana festival is a very popular tradition in Lombardy
  • Art & Culture
Traditions in Como: The legend of the Giubiana

The historic houses of Bergamo

Gardens, art, culture and beauty: the historic homes of the noble families of Bergamo are well worth a visit.
  • Art & Culture
The historic houses of Bergamo

Museums Lecco

Known above all for 'I Promessi Sposi' by Manzoni, Lecco is also rich in history and culture to be discovered in the Civic Museums
  • Art & Culture
Museums Lecco, exploring Lombardy