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.
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.
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.
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
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 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.
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.
That row of trees looks lovely.
from the looks of it.. it surely is scenic … thanks for dropping by On This Side of Town
I love taking pictures from the car window! These are lovely.
These are splendid, to say the very least.
Great shots from your drive! What are the flowers in the field in your first photo? They are amazing! I am always taking pictures along my drives.
~ Tracy
nice photos. just dropped in to say hello..
Ah, a sister at heart from half a world away. My outdoor wednesday post features drive by photos too!
Yours are lovely. Thanks for sharing them. It's such a priveledge to experience things through blog posts that I might never get to see in real life.
the field of golds are a beauty! Your drive by shots are great!
are those yellow flowers?
Enjoyed your drive by shots. It is a beautiful area.
I do that too & just hope it won't blur much. 🙂 Is that a carpet of yellow flowers? Lovely!
drive-by shots are fun. i couldn't stop myself from clicking away when traveling.
These are wonderful drive-by photos. I would have been doing a lot of stopping to get pictures of this beautiful area.
Great shots.
Sydney – City and Suburbs
love the drive bys. i often find myself indulding this passion.
Drive by photos are often the best. These are lovely glimpses into your surroundings.