Only 40 minutes from Verona, Mantua is a place that conveys the splendour of 16th-century courts.
“A city shaped like a Palazzo” is the delightful description given by academic and diplomat Baldassarre Castiglioni that perfectly renders the idea of the charms and treasures offered by Mantua. Small and well designed, the city is, first and foremost, an original mixture of history and art. Originally an Etruscan settlement, it achieved its full splendour in Medieval times and, in particular, during the reign of the Gonzaga family, the Dukes of Mantua who conquered the city in 1328 and ruled benevolently until 1707.
Important monuments including Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo della Ragione and the churches of San Lorenzo (the “Rotonda”) and Santa Maria del Gradaro also date back to this period. In 2016, the city has been named Italian Capital of Culture.
The city offers evidence of its prestigious history and rich traditions at every corner of its historic centre: porticoes, small squares and courtyards, enchanting places that convey the splendour of 16th-century courts.

Andrea Mantegna, Camera Picta at Palazzo Ducale
Andrea Mantegna, Camera Picta at Palazzo Ducale

The Palazzo Ducale, the main residence of the family, is a true palace-city, with more than 500 rooms, connected by corridors, inner courtyards and gardens. The 14th-century Castle of San Giorgio houses the most famous room in the entire Palace, the “Camera Picta” (Bridal Chamber), frescoed between 1465 and 1474 by Andrea Mantegna and considered one of the absolute masterpieces of 15th-century Italian painting.