A sightseeing tour in Mantua!

Hello, fellow travelers in this community!

Today, I'm thrilled to share what I did yesterday—a wonderful tour through a city in the Lombardy region. Many of you may know of it, though it’s not typically a top tourist destination. However, it’s a true Renaissance gem thanks to the powerful Gonzaga family, who made Mantua (Mantova) an important center of art, not only in Italy but also worldwide.

I parked in a free lot about a kilometer from the center of Mantua. The city offers a great service: a free shuttle bus that connects this lot to the center to help keep traffic congestion down.

It had been quite a while since I last visited this city, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it very clean compared to other northern Italian cities, with a nice, manageable number of tourists that made it feel relaxed and enjoyable.

In the coming days, I’ll tell you more about my visits to two of Mantua's important museums, which I highly recommend. Remember, Mantua has been a UNESCO World Heritage site for several years.

I also enjoyed a pleasant walk, noting how lively the city is, with plenty of charming cafes and restaurants that perfectly match the scenic surroundings. I also recommend two must-see churches, interesting not only for believers but also for those passionate about architecture and art. The first one I visited was Mantua’s Duomo.

The Duomo of Mantua, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle, is one of the city's most important places of worship. It’s located right on Mantua’s main square, Piazza Sordello, which hosts numerous events and, more recently, many music concerts.
This church was rebuilt several times due to various fires. One of its last major reconstructions was carried out by the renowned architect Giulio Romano in 1545, though the façade was remodeled later, in the 1700s, and clad in white Carrara marble.

What struck me most about this church was its interior, inspired by St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, but in an early Christian style. Inside, it houses numerous works of art that add to the place’s value and beauty.

After leaving, I continued my walk and noticed several pastry shops selling Mantua’s famous Sbrisolona, a beloved Italian dessert, along with other treats. There was even a line to get into one of the pastry shops!
I hope you found this post about Mantua interesting. It won’t be the last, as I’ll share more in the coming days about other aspects of this remarkable city.

Have a great day, and see you in my next post!