Best Things to Do in Ancient City of Mantua Italy

We took the fastest route indicated by the map in Garmin GPS. Distance from Milan to Mantua, 184 km to be covered in 2h 10min drive via A4. With tummies full and high thrill quotient we set off for for another exciting road trip.

Road Trip Milan to Mantua, Drive via A4

Scenes from Road Trip Milan to Mantua

The drive from Milan to Mantua was scenic. I kept clicking pictures through out the drive, sharing with you some of them.

Drive from Milan to Mantua


Mantova is surrounded by three lakes fed by the Mincio River. It is rightly called water city because of this. Located in the middle of scenic Po Valley, it has a unique urban landscape.

As we approached this medieval UNESCO heritage site we could soothe the lakes and greenery all around. These pictures are taken from San Giorgio Bridge Mantua also called St. George’s Bridge.

Three lakes surround Mantua

Mincio River Mantua

Walking Tour of Mantova City Center

The plan was half day tour of Mantua and then set off to Modena. We planned our own Mantua Old City Centre walking tour. But we could not tour all the places mentioned below because of lack of time, we had to drop out last 3 in the list below. Here is the list of must see 10 places in Mantua

  • Rotonda di San Lorenzo
  • Astronomical clock Mantua
  • Ducal Palace
  • Basilica di Sant’Andrea, has the Sacred Vessels that hold ‘the earth soaked with blood of Christ’ paraded on Good Friday
  • Piazza delle Erbe, it hosts the weekly market of Mantua
  • Piazza Sordello, where Mantua was founded
  • Mantua Cathedral St Pietro
  • Sabbioneta, the ideal Renaissance city
  • Castel San Giorgio
  • Palazzo Te

Market Day at Piazza delle Erbe

It happened to be a Thursday when we arrived at Mantua, we were lucky. Lucky because, it was a market day at Piazza delle Erbe.

The huge square crowded with buyers and sellers. Stalls rowed up catering to every kind of demand of the buyers. Merchandise, flowers, trinkets, shoes and a stall just for socks, there were pots and pans for sale too.

Artists performing at street corners. There was a kind of festive air around the place.

Market Day at Piazza delle Erbe Mantua

Market Day at Piazza delle Erbe

The stalls for food had tempting aroma around them, yummy cheese displayed at the counters made me grab for some. Mantua is famous for rearing a million pigs every year, and I saw one of them being roasted there; whole of it, not in pieces.

Roasted Pig Street Food in Mantua

Roasted Pig – Street Food in Mantova

I liked the hustle bustle there. Elbowing my way through the crowds was an experience by itself. I was fore warned of pick-picketers there, but I am sure there are none in Mantova. By two in the noon all of them had winded up their business and left. The place was empty; the vacant look of the Piazza was highlighting its hugeness.

Piazza delle Erbe

Street Artists in Piazza delle Erbe

A couple of pictures of street artists performing in Piazza delle Erbe. I am not sure if they represented some tribe or had donned the costumes for the performance.

Tourists around did halt to listen them playing melodious tunes. I would have loved to pose with them for a picture. But music buskers are different from other street performers.
street artists performing in Piazza delle Erbe, Mantua

street artists performing in Piazza delle Erbe

Tips to visit Mantua

  • Plan visit during July or August, when thousands of lotus flowers bloom on the Lake Superior.
  • Plan to visit Modena which is another UNESCO world heritage site at a distance of 75 km from Mantua.

Road trip from Milan to Mantua

 

Rotonda di San Lorenzo Mantua Attraction Italy
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