Hotels in Mantova

Mantova: Renaissance Capital on Three Lakes

Mantova (Mantua) sits on a peninsula formed by three artificial lakes — the Superiore, di Mezzo, and Inferiore — created by the Gonzaga family in the 12th century to defend the city. The Gonzaga duchy ruled here from 1328 to 1707, commissioning Palazzo Ducale, a 500-room complex that houses Andrea Mantegna's Camera degli Sposi (1474), and Palazzo Te, Giulio Romano's frescoed suburban villa completed in 1534. UNESCO recognized the city's Renaissance core in 2008.

Visitors arrive for the architecture, the annual Festivaletteratura (held each September since 1997), and the flat Po Valley countryside, popular with cyclists. The centro storico centers on Piazza Sordello, flanked by the Duomo and Palazzo Ducale. The medieval Rotonda di San Lorenzo (built 1083) stands nearby on Piazza delle Erbe.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Mantova railway station connects to Verona (30 min), which has the nearest major airport.
• Getting around: The centro storico is walkable; bike hire is available near the station for lake-circuit routes.
• When to visit: April–June and September–October avoid summer heat in the enclosed Po plain.
• Local food: Risotto al lambrusco and tortelli di zucca (pumpkin-filled pasta) are Mantovan specialties found at trattorias on Via Principe Amedeo.