Mantua (Italians say Mantova) is the center of the eponymous province in the Italian region of Lombardy. Etruscans and Gauls lived here long, even before our era. In the 70th year BC. e. Here one of the great poets of Ancient Rome, Virgil, was born
For any traveler interested in architecture, art, history of Italy, a trip to Mantua is of undoubted interest . City, due to its geographical location, it is easy to include in any tourist route, passing on the north of Italy . Those who intend to make this city the base on their travel can be offered to settle in any of several dozens of hotels, they all have wonderful reviews from the guests . A special aura can be felt by choosing AB is one of those hotels that are located in historic buildings, protected by the state .
Alpino al Cavalletto (Alba di Canazei) 3 * 07.03. for 7 nights, from 41 431 rubles
Touring (Pozza di Fassa) 3 * 07.03. for 7 nights, from 44 216 rubles
Cervo 3 * 28.02 for 7 nights, from 46 931 rubles
We have been working for you since 1929! Book a tour online!
Best hotels 5 *. Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan. VIP service.
Holidays in the islands: Sardinia, Ischia, Capri, Sicily.
Holidays with children. SPA-centers. Rest on the lakes. Wedding travel.
СОДИС - 25 years of impeccable work.
Gastronomic and wine programs, culinary master classes
Holidays for children and school groups • Ferrari tours
Rental of real estate, ski tours and much more
We can do everything! Call, do not hesitate
"Cities of Arts + Milan" from 26 950 rubles. for 8 days
"Italy + Switzerland" from 30 725 rubles. for 8 days
"Week-end in Rome" from 24,908 rubles. for 4 days
"Acquaintance with Rome" from 32 300 rubles. for 8 days
Hot tours with a discount of up to 25%
Selection of tours to Italy from the travel agency TEZ Tour - instant confirmation.
How to get here
The location of the city is very convenient: from here 150 km to Milan , 30 km to Verona, 160 km to Venice, 80 km to Bologna. The way to these cities can be done by train, bus or car. A somewhat larger distance, 300 km, separates Mantua from Rimini, to which the majority of tourists from Russia fly to the airport.
Search for tickets to the city of Verona (the closest a / p to Mantua)
A bit of history
In the Middle Ages the city became the arena of political and religious struggle, was found among the possessions of one and then another noble, until he passed into the possession of the Gonzaga, whose name is inseparable from Mantua of the Renaissance.
Rulers of this kind are known for their contradictory combination of qualities, such enlightened tyrants. Gonzaga managed to strengthen the economic position of Mantua, erected magnificent palaces and castles in the city, collected tremendous collections of books, antiquities and artistic values in them. The political influence of this kind extended to all of Europe, the Mantuan courtyard was one of the most brilliant in Italy, and the legislator of the mores, modes and passions in the art were the representatives of a powerful family.
It was those architects, artists, poets who worked under the auspices of Gonzaga , became the founders of those trends that became dominant in the art of the Renaissance. By the beginning of the 18th century the glorious clan began to fade, the younger branch of the family could not hold Mantua at the height of glory and grandeur, the city fell into decay and went under the control of the Habsburgs. From the brilliant city of arts the city turned into a powerful bastion, which created a lot of problems for Napoleon during the conquest of Italy.
Entertainment, excursions and attractions Mantua
The historical center of Mantua is listed on the World Heritage List of Humanity, the reason for this - the embodiment of the ideas of the Italian Renaissance in planning and building the city. Among the sights of the city are numerous cathedrals and palazzo, grouped, as a rule, around the squares. A special place in the list of places of interest is the Mantuan Cathedral, on the site of which several religious buildings were built and destroyed by fire.
The interiors of the cathedral are decorated with paintings by remarkable artists, but the most famous works - brushes by Paolo Veronese and Giulio Campi - were taken from Mantua. The Cathedral is located in Piazza Sordello Square
St. Andrea's Basilica
But the largest church of the city is the Basilica of St. Andrea, built in the Middle Ages at the place of the Benedictine monastery . By order of Ludovic III Gonzaga, she was in 1472 completely rebuilt under the guidance of the architect Leon Batista Alberti . As a result, the church became more spacious, the flow of pilgrims increased, which sought to cling to the vessel with the "priceless blood of Christ", which was stored in this church . Later the church was completed and rescheduled In particular, it received its high dome in the 18th century . But the facade still corresponds exactly to the plan of the great architect .
Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale, the Ducal Palace, is a grandiose architectural structure, one of the largest in Europe: the total area of all (about 500) of the premises is almost 34,000 sq. M . m . It was built from 1290 to 1708 as the residence of the city's rulers, the most its ancient buildings stand on the Palazzo del Capito . Corridors and galleries, halls and courtyards are a model of harmony and the embodiment of luxury . The exterior of the buildings of this palace was determined by various architects, decorated with colonnades, towers, porticoes . Amazing murals the interior rooms of the palace have survived to this day and do not cease to arouse admiration for both ordinary tourists and outstanding art critics .
Palazzo del Tee
Another palace became the fruit of the activity of Giulio Romano: Palazzo del Te, who is located in the southern part of the city . One of the most striking examples of Mannerism, this palace was also built for the rulers of the city and beautifully inscribed into the surrounding landscape. . It should be noted that Giulio Romano did not have any problems with financing, therefore his work was guided only by inspiration , and with swarms were erected incredibly fast for those times: this palace, which the architect considered to be the embodiment of his dream, was built only for a year and a half . The frescoes, stucco and other decorative details the palace was decorated after another 10 years . Photo of Mantua (28)