Delicious Italy - Mantova, 5 attractions not to miss

the Italy food, travel and culture guide

Home
Begin your trip, travel planning help
Travel Categories
Hotels, restaurants, local contacts
- Where to Stay
- Where to Eat
  - Restaurants
  - Hotel Restaurants
- Vacation Themes
Discover Italy
Destination and location information
- North Italy Regions
- Central Italy Regions
- South Italy Regions
Vacation Offers
Special deals and seasonal proposals
- Tours and Packages
- Special Offers
- Get Around Italy
  - Italy Ferry Routes
  - By Air
Contact Us
Join our mailing list - Member login

Thursday, 04 August 2011 10:20

Mantova, 5 attractions not to miss

Written by Delicious Italy Team

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email
Be the first to comment!

Rate this item

1
2
3
4
5

(1 Vote)

View of Mantova

Mantova is a fabulous place to visit and we go along with Torquato Tasso writing in 1586 following his visit to Lombardia: "This is a most beautiful town worthy of travelling a thousand miles to see it'". So what are you waiting for!

1. THE DUKES PALACE

Palazzo Ducale is really a town in the shape of a palace and was built to compete with the major European courts of the 13th to 14th centuries. It is 34,000 square meters of lanes, squares, courtyards, gardens and well preserved rooms housing priceless masterpieces. Not least the 'Camera dei Sposi' sumptuously frescoed by Andrea Mantegna with Emperors, Kings and crowds of people. horses and dogs. In fact, the ruling Gonzagas were great animal lovers and even built a dog's courtyard by a lakeside wing of the complex. You can still see a gravestone to their beloved 'Oriana'.

2. PIAZZA SORDELLO

The ancient cobble stones have witnessed many events, starting with the Gonzagas military coup in 1328. The Cathedral of San Pietro is at the centre while to the right is the Magna Domus and Captains Palace with its Ghibelline battlements. Behind the imposing 13th century Palazzo Bonacolsi is the tower with its cage where criminals were imprisoned.

3. THE DOLPHIN FOUNTAIN IN PIAZZA BROLETTO

The fountain marks the spot where in August 1890 the first artesian well was dug to allow drinking water for all gushing from a depth of 121 meters underground. Not far away is the Swann district and an elegant building at number 24, Via Giovanni Chiassi. It used to house the Guild of Apothecaries and was probably the spot Shakespeare referred to in Romeo and Juliet and where Romeo bought his poison.

4. THE SECRET GARDEN OF PALAZZO TE

Started in 1525, and taking 10 years to complete, Palazzo Te represeNts the tastes of Federico II Gonzaga who wanted a villa just out of town all for himself. The names of the rooms are very suggestive: Horses Room, Psyches Room, Giant's Room, as well as the Grotto whose vault is decorated with mysterious scenes, an allegory of life.

5. THE WHISPERING GIANTS

One of the artistic pearls of the territory, the Giants Hall is a fantastic creation by Giulio Romano, but apparently not to everyone's taste. Charles Dickens described the 16th century frescoes as 'inconceivably bad looking and grotesque' which is quite something coming from him. But no one can resist testing the incredible acoustics of the room by whispering in one corner and being heard pefectly in the other.