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Cultural & heritage · Mantua

Top 10 cultural & heritage things to do in Mantua

Heritage walks, museum days, temple complexes, and the kind of guides who explain why a place matters rather than reciting dates. The cultural side of Mantua, paced for actual seeing.

  1. Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Mantua, Mantua1

    1. Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Mantua

    · 5 hours

    Italy has a vast and varied culinary heritage, and our local hosts are proud to share its hidden secrets. Share your passion for Italian gastronomy with other lovely guests, immerse yourself in the vibrant local market and enjoy an authentic hands-on cooking class. You'll visit the local market with your Cesarina host, who will teach you all about how to select the best ingredients with the seasons. Then, you'll return to their home, warm up with an Italian Aperitivo and enjoy the class. You'll learn how to make one iconic Pasta type, typical of the city you are visiting, and the famous Tiramisu. After the class, you will enjoy everything you've prepared with local wines. This experience is the perfect choice if you want to encounter the real Italian regional gastronomy through genuine connections, food, and friendship.

  2. CSTRents - Mantova Segway PT Authorized Tour, Mantua2

    2. CSTRents - Mantova Segway PT Authorized Tour

    · 3 hours

    • 3-hour Segway tour lead by an expert local guide • See top Mantova. From piazza Marconi to piazza Mantegna that, together with the adjacent piazza Erbe, forms the city centre where stands the Saint Andrew’s Basilica, celebrated work of the Renaissance art. We get to the picturesque piazza Erbe with its medieval buildings; the Reason’s Palace and Saint Laurence’s Rotunda being the most outstanding ones. We arrive in piazza Sordello to admire the Ducal Palace or Gonzaga Royal Palace and moreover the Cathedral and Bonacolsi Palace, and then we continue towards the lakes. Our back course gets onto piazza Castello and provides even more surprises before heading back, along comfortable and safe paths, to the arrival at the Tea Palace. • Hear tales of colorful history from a knowledgeable guide • Enjoy a Segway sightseeing tour that’s suitable for all fitness levels • Small-group tour with a maximum of eight people ensures a personalized experience

  3. Mantua City Centre Walking Tour, Mantua3

    3. Mantua City Centre Walking Tour

    5.0· 2 reviews· 2 hours

    Guided walking tour in Mantua with a friendly, English-speaking local guide. Food, art, nature and a welcoming atmosphere; that’s what makes Mantua one of the best cities to visit in Italy. Discover the Gonzaga family's incredible legacy, where Shakespeare’s Romeo was banished, Verdi’s Rigoletto was set and Opera was born. Discover an amazing Unesco World Heritage Site and the reason why the greatest Italian Renaissance writer, Torquato Tasso, wrote “...Mantua is a magnificent town, worth a thousand mile travel to see it...”

  1. Mantua Private Walking Tour, Mantua4

    4. Mantua Private Walking Tour

    5.0· 2 reviews· 2 hours

    During this private tour the guide will accompany you to discover the splendid city of Mantua, one of the capitals of the Italian Renaissance. The tour will take place through the historic center, between the gardens of the Ducal residence of the Gonzaga lords, the magnificent Palazzo Ducale and the cathedral that overlook the cobblestones of Piazza Sordello, up to the fabulous lake.

  2. Palazzo Ducale Mantova - by Local Guide Tiziana Portioli, Mantua5

    5. Palazzo Ducale Mantova - by Local Guide Tiziana Portioli

    5.0· 65 reviews· 1.5 hours

    Gonzaga's Residences tour. Mantua owes its beautiful Renaissance monuments to the Gonzaga Lords, who ruled the Mantuan Duchy for almost four centuries, and during their reign they made the city into a Court of grand splendor. The Gonzaga loved both luxury and power, and they lived in somptuous residences such as the huge Palazzo Ducale, their royal residence and the amazing Palazzo Te, intended as place of leisure and pleasure. The Ducal Palace with the gorgeous “Bridal Chamber” by Mantegna and the Te Palace by Giulio Romano’s genius, are some magnificent residences built by the Gonzagas, and an absolute must-see.

  3. Mantova Centro Storico - Tour a piedi con Guida Tiziana Portioli, Mantua6

    6. Mantova Centro Storico - Tour a piedi con Guida Tiziana Portioli

    4.9· 61 reviews· 1.5 hours

    Mantua, 'the City on Water of the Gonzagas'. This tour's highlights: Piazza Sordello with Duomo, Bishop’s Palace, Palazzo Ducale with its courtyards and gardens, Piazza Broletto and Piazza Erbe with Palazzo Comunale and Palazzo della Ragione, Clock Tower, Rotonda of S. Lorenzo and Basilica of S. Andrea, Via Orefici with the Canal “Rio”. On request visit to the Academy Theatre (Teatro Bibiena) entrance ticket €. 2,00

  4. Half-day Guided tour of Mantua City Centre and Ducal Palace, Mantua7

    7. Half-day Guided tour of Mantua City Centre and Ducal Palace

    4.9· 8 reviews· 3 hours

    Discover Mantua, Unesco World Heritage Site since 2008 and 2016 Italian capital of culture. Join this engaging 3-hours tour and explore Mantua city centre and the Ducal Palace, one of Italy's greatest treasures, with a professional private local guide. Mantua surprises its visitors by her exceptional character: Small but spectacular, from every corner the city of Mantua offers an encounter with history and beauty. Visit Mantua, where artistic wonders, great food and sheer beauty conspire to make life sweeter.

  5. Mantovagando, Mantua8

    8. Mantovagando

    4.8· 48 reviews· 1.5 hours

    Passeggiata per le vie e le piazze di Mantova, scoprendo la sua storia e non solo monumenti importanti. Questo tour prevede la visita SOLO IN ESTERNO (strade e piazze), NON PREVEDE INGRESSI IN MUSEI O CHIESE ad eccezione della Basilica di S. Andrea ( se non ci sono funzioni in svolgimento e , ovviamente, se aperta). Walk through the streets and squares of Mantova, discovering its history and the most important monuments. This tour covers only the exteriors (streets and squares).

  6. Discovery Private Tour of the Gonzaga Palace, Mantua9

    9. Discovery Private Tour of the Gonzaga Palace

    4.5· 13 reviews· 2 hours

    The city in the city, a symbol of the power and wealth of the Gonzagasch dynasty, hides within it small treasures, surprises, games and wonders that will amaze and fascinate you.

  7. Mantua Interactive City Tour, Mantua10

    10. Mantua Interactive City Tour

    4.0· 1 reviews· 1.5 hours

    Discover Mantua your way with Ciceru’s self-guided walking tour—audio and text in 7 languages, right on your phone. No app, no hassle—just press play and explore! Starting at the majestic Castello di San Giorgio, let your smartphone guide you through the city's landmarks and hidden corners. Explore the grandeur of the Palazzo Ducale, wander through the charming Piazza Broletto, and uncover the secrets of Piazza delle Erbe and the Rotonda di San Lorenzo. Continue to the enchanting Piazza Mantegna, marvel at the beauty of the Basilica di Sant’Andrea, and follow the riddles to uncover Mantua’s rich history. With 9 intriguing stops, this self-guided tour lets you explore at your own pace, combining discovery with fun. Perfect for history buffs, curious travelers, and families, this experience blends interactive challenges with the timeless allure of Mantua. Discover Mantua like never before—one riddle at a time!

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