Mantua

Day 1: The Gonzaga heart of the city

Ease into Mantua by orienting yourself in the medieval-to-Renaissance core, where palaces, towers and churches sit within a compact, walkable maze. If your Day 1 falls on a Monday, consider swapping with Day 2 as many museums and palaces reduce hours or close.

• Morning: Start in Piazza Sordello for the city’s grand overview, then enter the Palazzo Ducale (allow 2.5–3 hours). Follow the route from the Corte Vecchia to the Castello di San Giorgio to see the Camera degli Sposi; book a timed slot in advance, arrive at opening, and wear comfortable shoes for cobbles. Park outside the ZTL (e.g., Campo Canoa or Palazzo Te) and walk in; consider the Mantova Card if you’ll visit multiple sites.
• Midday: Stroll to Piazza delle Erbe for lunch under porticoes, then step into the Rotonda di San Lorenzo to experience Romanesque Mantua. Continue to the Basilica di Sant’Andrea to admire Alberti’s triumphal-arch façade and vast barrel-vaulted nave; keep voices low and dress modestly (cool respite in summer, atmospheric in winter fog).
• Afternoon: Loop back via the Duomo to see its Baroque frontage and Giulio Romano’s remodelled interior, then pause at the Palazzo della Ragione and Torre dell’Orologio. Smaller sites may close for lunch; plan a coffee stop and practise the local “look up” habit to spot frescoed eaves and rooflines.
• Evening: Join the passeggiata beneath the porticoes and settle in Piazza Sordello as the façades glow after dusk. Dine on tortelli di zucca and finish with sbrisolona; watch for cyclists on shared streets.

Day 2: Mannerism, makers and the lakes

Today is about Giulio Romano’s playful rule‑breaking and the city’s lived-in fabric. The walk to the southern quarter reveals workshops, courtyards and the best route to a golden‑hour lakeside view.

• Morning: Walk towards Palazzo Te via the Tempio di San Sebastiano and try the city’s AR app to visualise Alberti’s original scheme. Detour to Casa del Mantegna to stand in the serene circular courtyard, then continue to Palazzo Te for its rusticated façades and the witty “slipping” triglyphs.
• Midday: Explore Palazzo Te’s interiors at an unhurried pace (Sala di Psiche and Sala dei Giganti reward slow looking). Have lunch at the onsite café or nearby osteria; in high summer, linger in the shaded gardens before heading back.
• Afternoon: Return via the Pescherie and Beccherie along the Rio canal, a fine slice of Giulio Romano’s civic design still embedded in daily life. Visit the Teatro Scientifico “Bibiena” for its bell‑shaped auditorium and superb acoustics; check performance times and pop in between rehearsals.
• Evening: Take the lakeside path (Lungolago Gonzaga) from Porto Catena for the iconic skyline at sunset; golden hour flatters Mantua’s terracotta and brick. In spring–autumn, consider a short boat trip or hire bikes to circuit the lakes before dinner.

Day 3: Layers, courtyards and last looks

Use your final day to deepen what you’ve seen, folding in lesser‑known corners or returning to favourites with fresh eyes. If you’re here in early September, Festivaletteratura events activate palaces and piazzas—book ahead.

• Morning: Re-enter the Palazzo Ducale for areas you may have missed, such as the Corte Nuova, Appartamento di Troia or the Appartamento della Rustica (check which sections are open post‑restoration). Step into the Palatine Basilica of Santa Barbara to sense Gonzaga court ritual in its intended setting.
• Midday: Wander without a rigid plan between Piazza Sordello and Palazzo Te, peeking into gateways on Via Accademia and Corso Umberto I to find hidden cortili. Grab a simple lunch near Piazza Mantegna; many kitchens pause mid‑afternoon, so eat on the earlier side.
• Afternoon: Choose your flavour of finale: a gentle cycle around the lakes, a nature‑minded boat ride on the Mincio (lotus blooms late summer), or a deep dive into a small museum or church if it’s rainy. If you bought the Mantova Card, this is the moment to use any remaining entries.
• Evening: Cap your stay with a concert at the Bibiena if available, or a night tour when offered to see façades theatrically lit. Toast the skyline with an aperitivo; Mantua is at its most photogenic just after sunset when the brick warms and reflections pool on the cobbles.

By Air

• Verona (VRN, Valerio Catullo) – approx. 35–45 min by car (c. 45 km). Aerobus to Verona Porta Nuova (15 min), then regional train to Mantua (36–50 min). Total public transport: about 60–90 min.
• Bologna (BLQ) – approx. 1 h 15–1 h 30 by car (c. 110–120 km). Marconi Express to Bologna Centrale (7–8 min), then regional trains to Mantua (usually 1 change via Modena or Verona). Total: about 1 h 45–2 h 20.
• Milan Linate (LIN) – approx. 1 h 40–2 h by car (c. 160 km). Bus to Milano Centrale (25–30 min), then direct/regional trains to Mantua (about 1 h 55–2 h 15). Total: about 2–2 h 45.
• Milan Malpensa (MXP) – approx. 2 h 15–2 h 45 by car (c. 210–220 km). Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale (50–60 min), then train to Mantua. Total: about 3–3 h 30.
• Bergamo (BGY) – approx. 1 h 45–2 h by car (c. 145 km). Bus to Bergamo station (15–20 min), then train via Brescia or Verona. Total: about 2 h 30–3 h.
• Venice (VCE) – approx. 1 h 50–2 h 15 by car (c. 160 km). Bus to Venezia Mestre (20–25 min), then train via Verona. Total: about 2 h 30–3 h.
• Parma (PMF) – approx. 1 h by car (c. 65 km). Bus to Parma station, then regional train via Suzzara. Total: about 1 h 30–2 h.

By Train

• Main station: Mantova (Mantua) – short walk to the historic centre.
• Key routes (regional services by Trenitalia/Trenord; no high-speed trains direct to Mantua):
  • Verona Porta Nuova: 36–50 min, 1–2 per hour.
  • Modena: 50–70 min, about hourly.
  • Milan (Centrale/Rogoredo): about 1 h 55–2 h 20 (direct services several times daily) or via Verona/Brescia.
  • Bologna: typically 1 h 40–2 h 10 with 1 change (often Modena or Verona).
  • Venice: about 2 h 15–2 h 45 with 1 change (Verona).
• For high-speed connections (Frecciarossa/Italo), change at Verona Porta Nuova, Bologna Centrale, Modena or Milan.

By Bus

• Regional and intercity services (APAM and others) connect Mantua with nearby towns (e.g., Sabbioneta, Verona, Modena, Brescia). Long-distance coaches (e.g., FlixBus on select routes) stop near the railway station area (Piazza Don Leoni/APAM hub).

By Car

• Motorway access via A22 (Autostrada del Brennero): exits Mantova Nord and Mantova Sud.
• Approximate driving times:
  • Verona: 45–55 min (c. 45 km, via A22).
  • Modena: ~1 h (c. 75 km, via A22).
  • Bologna: 1 h 15–1 h 30 (c. 110–120 km).
  • Milan: 1 h 45–2 h (c. 160 km).
  • Venice: 2–2 h 15 (c. 160 km).
• Historic centre is a ZTL (limited traffic zone); use edge-of-centre parking such as Palazzo Te car park or Campo Canoa (with pedestrian bridge/shuttle) and walk into the centre. Tolls apply on autostrade.