Mantova, Italy

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Mantova ::.
Travel and Tourism Information

The seat of the Gonzaga dynasty, Mantova was ruled for three centuries by the Gonzaga, one of Renaissance Italy's richest and most powerful families. This town also is the birthplace of Virgil and Tazio Nuvolari, one of Italy’s most famous racing drivers.

The Duomo, built for Fancesco Gonzaga IV has a facade in Carrara marble and hosts the 17th century chapel of the Santissimo Sacramento.

The Museo Diocesano houses the cathedral's treasury, Gonzaga jewels, 15-17th century paintings and a rich collection of armour. Piazza delle Erbe is the lively heart of town where you may admire the Rotonda di S.Lorenzo, a Romanesque church with paintings from the 11th century. The Basilica di S.Andrea was built by Leon Battista Alberti with a dome by Filippo Juvara; it hosts the tomb of Mantegna.

However, the most famous sites of Mantova are its two palaces: the Palazzo Ducale and the Palazzo Te. The Palazzo Ducale, once the largest in Europe (34.000 sqm) was the home of the Gonzaga family, and has a number of impressive paintings by artists such as Rubens,Mantegna and Guido Reni. These works may be admired in the Camera degli Sposi, the Sala del Pisanello, the Sala degli Specchi, the Appartamento di Troya and the Stanza del Labirinto (with the motto "forse che sì, forse che no")

The Palazzo Te with its outstanding decorations was built as a Renaissance pleasure palace for Federico Gonzaga and his mistress, Isabella Boschetto. It is one of the best preserved 16th century villas with a large, inner garden and richly decorated facades. The rooms are frescoed in Mannerist style; don't miss the Sala dei Cavalli, the Sala di Psiche, the Sala dei Giganti. The Appartamento della Grotta is a free-standing building with a secret garden.

Other interesting sights are Palazzo d'Arco (picture gallery with works by Lotto and the schools of Van Dyck and Rubens), S.Francesco, the House of Giulio Romano, the House of Andrea Mantegna.

Mantova
::. Surroundings

• Sabbioneta