GAY MANTOVA
Discover this City with our Quick and Practical Guide to Visit the Best Attractions, Savor Typical Dishes and Have Fun in the Best Gay Bars. All this through the Rainbow Eyes of the World Mappers
What to See, Best Places to Sleep, Where to Eat and to Have Fun in MANTOVA?
Find it out with the World Mappers !
WHAT TO SEE in MANTOVA?
10 THINGS TO SEE in MANTOVA
Ducal Palace
We like to call it a palace, a palace seems reductive to us. In fact, it is also known as the Reggia dei Gonzaga, the family that governed Mantua and lived here until the early 1700s. Plan your visit well, there are more than 500 rooms, courtyards, loggias and beautiful frescoes, among others, the cycle of frescoes by Pisanello. Unfortunately, little remains of the luxury of the past because after the fall of the Gonzagas much was destroyed and ruined.
Castle of San Giorgio & Camera degli Sposi
Easily recognizable by its 4 towers. You cannot go to Mantua and not visit the Camera degli Sposi (Camera Picta) in the north-east tower of the castle, in what were once the apartments of Isabella d'Este. A wonderful cycle of frescoes by Andrea Mantegna. Describing its beauty is impossible, you will see that you will be amazed.
St Andrew's Church
This church, the largest in the city, keeps in its crypt the two vases containing the earth soaked in the blood of Christ, collected by the Roman soldier who pierced his side. However, the relic is visible only once a year, on Good Friday. As soon as you enter the church you are left speechless (at least that's what happened to us). The coffered ceiling and nave decorations are nothing short of rich and gorgeous. You would stay with your nose up all the time.
Palazzo Te
By now we seem to be repetitive but even in this case we are talking about a very beautiful building, rich in history and art. Born as a small residence of the Gonzagas, it was then expanded to reach today's size. The Palace is splendid, but the pinnacle of beauty can be found in the Chamber of the Giants, a masterpiece by Giulio Romano.
Roundabout of San Lorenzo
This is the oldest church in Mantua. Built on the example of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem with a single nave with an ambulatory with eight columns. The church was completely frescoed but unfortunately today only a few remains of frescoes are visible.
Piazza Sordello
The largest and most important square in Mantua, dedicated to the poet Sordello (although for centuries it was known as Piazza San Pietro). A large open space, in the center of the city, surrounded by marvelous buildings and ideal for your aperitifs.
Cathedral of Mantua
If like us you thought that the Cathedral of Mantua was the church of Sant'Andrea, you were wrong. The most important church in the city is the cathedral of San Pietro Apostolo, in Piazza Sordello. A church with beautiful interiors even if we, if we had to choose, prefer that of Sant'Andrea. Here the most important members of the Gonzaga family were buried. Together with the Cathedral, the Palazzo Vescovile, Palazzo degli Uberti, Palazzo Castiglioni, Palazzo Acerbi and finally Palazzo del Capitano overlook the square.
Piazza delle Erbe
Mantua also has its Piazza delle Erbe (a name that in many Lombard and Venetian cities indicates the commercial role that the square had in the past). Surrounded on three sides by beautiful arcades full of shops and clubs, in this square we find the Palazzo della Ragione with battlements and right next to it the Torre dell'Orologio / Clock Tower with the Museum of Time (the clock in the tower dates back to 1473!). Let's not forget Palazzo del Podestà (or Palazzo del Broletto) even if its main facade overlooks Piazza Broletto where the statue of Virgil enthroned (which we will talk about later) is located.
House of Rigoletto
In Piazza Sordello, behind the Cathedral, we find the small house of Rigoletto, the Gonzaga court jester, who became famous in 1851 thanks to the opera of the same name by Giuseppe Verdi. Today seat of the Mantua information office, as soon as you enter the internal garden you come across the statue of the jester.
House of Mantegna
In Mantua there is also the house of Mantegna, painter of the Gonzaga court and author of the Camera degli Sposi. A two-story building with a beautiful circular courtyard in the center. Today the house is only open during exhibition and exhibition times.
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
Visiting this city at its best depends essentially on how long you have to fully enjoy it. Here is a solution based on the number of days available to you:
Day 1 - Complete Mantova - Google Maps
(By opening the Maps with Google, you can easily follow our path)
10 BEST EXCURSIONS from MANTOVA
We advise you to book the best excursions here: Viator - Musement - Get Your Guide
Sabbioneta & Parco del Mincio
Valeggio sul Mincio, Parco Sigurtà & Borghetto
Verona & Valpolicella
Lake Garda (Peschiera del Garda, Sirmione & Bardolino)
Cremona & Piacenza
Parma, Reggio Emilia & Modena
Bologna & Dozza
Padova & Colli Euganei
Ferrara & Delta del Po
Brescia & Lago d'Iseo
Click'n'Go - Click on Hotels, Restaurants, Bars & Clubs
to find them on the Map or visit their Website
WHERE TO SLEEP in MANTOVA?
5 BEST GAY FRIENDLY HOTELS in MANTOVA
Hotel la Favorita *** ® Tested by World Mappers
WHERE TO EAT in MANTOVA?
10 BEST RESTAURANTS in MANTOVA Quality / Price
€€€ - Ristorante Tiratappi
€€ - Sücar Brüsc - Cucina tipica dei Gonzaga ® Tested by World Mappers
€€ - Osteria Da Giannino ® Tested by World Mappers
GAY NIGHTLIFE in MANTOVA
BEST GAY FRIENDLY PLACES, BARS & CLUBS in MANTOVA
Le Belle Giovenche
Aperitivo Gay organizzato da Arcigay La Salamandra
TRAVEL TIPS about MANTOVA by World Mappers
The best panoramic point in Mantua can be found without a doubt at Campo Canoa, across the river Mincio (near Ponte San Giorgio). The view is sensational, the whole city will be reflected before your eyes in the river. And if you go at sunset, well the experience will be unforgettable. Oh we forgot, Campo Canoa Parking is free!
In 2008 UNESCO declared Mantua a World Heritage Site. The nearby town of Sabbioneta was also added to the Lombard jewel as an example of an ideal Renaissance city. Built at the behest of Vespasiano Gonzaga, Sabbioneta is an extraordinary example of a city planned and built from scratch. There are many points of interest to see in Sabbioneta: the Teatro all'Antica, the first built in Europe not obtained from existing buildings; the Galleria degli Antichi, the longest in Italy after that of the Uffizi in Florence and that of geographical maps in the Vatican. And then Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Giardino.
Near Mantua, we recommend a trip to Valeggio sul Mincio, with a visit to the Sigurtà Garden Park, and to Borghetto. Valeggio, just under thirty kilometers from Verona, is a beautiful village on the banks of the Mincio river. Dominated by the Scaliger Castle, it is a real pleasure to stroll through the narrow streets up and down the bridges and stop and sip good wine in one of the many cafes directly overlooking the river. With more than 60 hectares, the Sigurtà Garden Park welcomes many visitors every year ready to admire the colors of millions of flowers which, depending on the season, color the park in different and always wonderful ways. Large meadows, ponds and even a maze of plants are just some of the things you will find in this beautiful nature park. The characteristic landscape of Borghetto sul Mincio (fraction of the municipality of Valeggio), on the other hand, will make you take a dip in the past: the Visconteo Bridge, the Scaliger Castle and more, will make you breathe a medieval atmosphere. The Mincio cycle path runs through these areas, a route of over forty kilometers that connects Peschiera del Garda to Mantua, passing through Valeggio, Borghetto and many other villages.
"SECRET MANTOVA"
Unusual and Particular Places to See in Mantova
Outside the classic places to visit of the city, there is a "Secret Mantova" that has simply bewitched us. Here are the 3 Things and Places to See in Secret Mantova:
"Little Venice" of Mantova - The Rio Mantova, a canal that cuts the city in half, creates truly beautiful views. We are between Via Trieste and Via Pomponazzo, and we almost feel like we are in Venice, with the small river passing between the colored houses.
Belltower of the Cathedral - Next to Palazzo Ducale. From the top you can enjoy a spectacular view over the roofs of the city. Think that seven bells are housed here.
Statue "La Vecia" by Virgilio - This is the statue depicting Virgil in the chair, located in Piazza Broletto, and commonly called by the Mantuans "la vecia" (the old woman, apparently due to the expression on her face). Since this is the city of Virgil, there are many tours dedicated to the poet that you can follow in Mantua.
GAY FRIENDLY TOURS
Do you want to discover the city more deeply through Mantova's Best Gay Tours? We recommend the following local operators:
Gaily Tour - Tour Operator offering tours and excursions dedicated to the LGBT + community throughout Europe. Special Tours and Gay & Lesbian Friendly Guides ready to make you discover the beauties of this destination. Info & Booking: info@GailyTour.com
What to See near Mantova ?
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