Mantua (map) is a world heritage listed city in Lombardy, not far from Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. Because of the power and influence of the *Gonzaga family, which used to own the city for over 400 years, Mantua was considered one of the most important cultural cities in the Renaissance and it still maintains a lot of the buildings that made it famous during that period.
The Gonzagas protected the arts and culture, and were hosts to several important artists such as Leone Battista Alberti, Andrea Mantegna, Giulio Romano, Donatello, Peter Paul Rubens, Pisanello, Domenico Fetti, Luca Fancelli and Nicolò Sebregondi.
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In 2008, Mantua’s centro storico (map) and Sabbioneta were declared by UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site.
Palazzo Te (map) (1525–1535) semi-rural palace of Giulio Romano (who lived in Mantua in his final years) in the mature Renaissance style, with some hints of a post-Raphaelian mannerism.
Palazzo Ducale (map), famous residence of the Gonzaga family, made up of a number of buildings, courtyards and gardens gathered around the Palazzo del Capitano, the Magna Domus and the Castle of St. George with the Camera degli Sposi, a room frescoed by Andrea Mantegna.
Basilica of Sant’Andrea (map) was begun in 1462 according to designs by Leon Battista Alberti but was finished only in the 18th century when was built the massive dome designed by Filippo Juvarra.
Duomo (Cathedral of St Peter the Apostle, map). An initial structure probably existed on the site in the Early Christian era, which was followed by a building destroyed by a fire in 894. The current church was rebuilt in 1395–1401. After another fire in the 16th century, Giulio Romano rebuilt the interior but saved the frontage, which was replaced however in 1756–61 by the current Baroque one in Carrara marble.
Castello di San Giorgio (map). The castle is a part of the Ducal Palace. It hosts the Museum of modern and contemporary arts.
*Sabbioneta (map) – a Renaissance ideal town. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site on par with Mantua.
APAM – buses around the city and suburbs.
BUS > Arpa (Abruzzo) • Sais (Sicily) • Busweb • Saj (Calabria) • Marino (Apulia e Basilicata) • Sena (Tuscany) • Autostradale S.p.A. (Lombardy).
Flixbus • EuroLines • Busabout Adventure Coach Travel Europe • Europe by Bus • Buses on the Web.
RAIL > Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori • Trenitalia + International Rail • RailEurope (*Rail travel in Italy)
AIRPORTS > Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (Fiumicino) • Ciampino Airport (Ciampino) • Milan Malpensa Airport • Linate Airport • Orio al Serio Airport.
WATERWAYS > Grimaldi Lines > Spain, France, Sicily, Sardinia, Malta,Tunisia and Corsica. Gnv Grandi Navi Veloci > Sardinia, Sicily, Spain, Tunisia, Malta, Morocco. Moby Line > Sardinia, Corsica, Elba Livorno, Civitavecchia. Snav > Sicily-Sardinia-Greece / Croatia, Aeolian Islands. Emilia Romagna Lines > Croatia, Slovenia. Saremar > Corsica – Sardinia. > (*Ferries in the Mediterranean)