Mantua, a city rich of history, surprises its visitores by her exceptionnal character.This city is good to live in but also brilliant and aristocratic. It’s surrounded by beautiful environment, in which water and earth are unexpectedly interwoven. A city in which the excellence and originality of local traditions concerning wine, food and products make it worth making the trip.
Between Art and Culture
Palazzo Ducale ( Palace of the Duke)
Small but spectacular, from every corner the city of Mantua offers an encounter with history and beauty and you should also see the less famous spots in the streets en squares where nobility and rich merchants wanted to copy the glory of the Renaissence.
Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Te are the beginning and end of a cultural citytrip which is to be recognised by the image of a salamander. If you leave Castello di S. Griorgio you will enter Piazza Sordello what, with its contours, forms the heart of the hirtorical centre. The scenery is dominated by the wide gallery supported by big columns of Palazzo Ducale. This consists of Palazzo del Capitano, Magna Domus and the Duomo. At the right side Palazzo Vescovile, Palazzo degli Uberti and Palazzo Castiglioni rise above. Strolling along the galery of Palazzo Broletto your attentino will be drawn by Palazzo del Podesta. If you walk through the porch of the Lattonai you will see the front of the palace in the Piazza Erbe.
Mantua is surrounded by the river Mincio that grows wider and wider as it gets closer to the 3 lakes, as a result of which they can excist. Not only by its urban aspect but also by the nature in and around Mantua you will be enchanted. The “Nature Reserve Mincio” is a very important area with great historical and cultural merit. It is protected by the institution “Parco del Mincio”. You can visit it by canoe, boat or motorboat. Reed land, swamps, protected animals and watervegetation like lotus form the beautiful scenery of Parco del Mincio. There is plenty opportunity to practise aquatic sport. Because of the slow streamlet of the Mincio it is good to canoe. With a slow going boat you can enjoy the lovely landscape.
Mantua is a city of art and culture but also capital of the Italian gastronomy en enology. Water and earth are the hart of Mantua en of her culinary culture, which offers, between Gonzagic banquets and folktraditions, a great amount of typical local dishes. The local kitchen also offers several recepies, original or adapted by the Virgilian cooks with their great knowledge and creativity. The special scents and fine flavours always let you know you are in Mantua. Tortelli di zucca ( pumpkin ravioli), Salame Contadino ( salami made at the farmers) and local sweets like the “Sbrisolona cake” are just a small part of the delicious specialities to be found in our city....more
