Mantua is a small, flat and almost entirely pedestrian city: its masterpieces all lie within two kilometres and can be reached on foot. In a well-planned day you can see both Gonzaga palaces, the medieval piazzas and the basilica designed by Leon Battista Alberti.
This itinerary starts from the station, where you can leave your bags at Mantova Locker, heads up to Piazza Sordello and Palazzo Ducale, crosses the centre and ends at Palazzo Te, about twenty minutes’ walk from the platforms – handy if you are leaving in the evening.
At a glance: 1 day · approx. 5 km on foot · first visit
The stops
1. Piazza Sordello
The city’s largest square, closed on one side by the Cathedral of San Pietro and on the other by the crenellated façade of Palazzo Ducale. Here you immediately grasp the scale of Mantua: medieval, compact, built around the court.
2. Palazzo Ducale and the Camera degli Sposi
One of the largest royal palaces in Europe, with hundreds of rooms set among courtyards, gardens and apartments. The highlight is the Camera degli Sposi (Bridal Chamber) in the Castello di San Giorgio, painted by Andrea Mantegna: the court of Ludovico Gonzaga on the walls and, on the ceiling, the oculus opening onto the sky with putti peering down. Don’t miss the tapestries woven from Raphael’s cartoons and the Appartamento di Troia (Troy Apartment) either.
3. Piazza delle Erbe and the Rotonda di San Lorenzo
The Palazzo della Ragione, the 15th-century Clock Tower and, one step below the level of the square, the Rotonda di San Lorenzo, the oldest church in the city, dating from the late 11th century. Under the arcades there are cafés and trattorias for a lunch break.
4. Basilica of Sant’Andrea
Designed by Leon Battista Alberti, with a façade inspired by the Roman triumphal arch. Inside are Mantegna’s funerary chapel and, in the crypt, the Sacred Vessels holding the relic of the Most Precious Blood of Christ – the reason the basilica was built.
5. Casa del Mantegna and Tempio di San Sebastiano
On Via Acerbi, on the way to Palazzo Te: the house Mantegna built for himself, with a circular courtyard inside a brick cube, and opposite it the Tempio di San Sebastiano, another of Alberti’s designs.
6. Palazzo Te
The pleasure villa of Federico II Gonzaga, Giulio Romano’s masterpiece. The Chamber of the Giants, painted from floor to vault, makes you feel the palace is collapsing on top of you; the Chamber of Cupid and Psyche and the Hall of the Horses, with the duke’s favourite steeds, complete the visit.
Visit Mantua luggage-free
Leave your suitcases, backpacks and bags at Mantova Locker and travel light: we are at Via Solferino e San Martino 4, just a short walk from the railway station, open 24 hours a day. Find out how it works, our prices and where to find us.
Practical tips
- Book Palazzo Ducale online: entry to the Camera degli Sposi is limited.
- Check opening days and times on the official websites: state museums are usually closed on Mondays.
- Wear comfortable shoes: in the centre you walk on cobblestones and porphyry paving.
- If you’re short on time, you can do Palazzo Te first and the centre in the afternoon: the order doesn’t change the distance.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see Mantua in one day?
Yes. The centre is compact: in one day you can see Palazzo Ducale with the Camera degli Sposi, Piazza delle Erbe, Sant’Andrea and Palazzo Te, walking about 5 km in total.
Where is the best place to start?
At Piazza Sordello and Palazzo Ducale, which takes the longest: it’s best to visit it in the morning while you’re fresh, then head down to Palazzo Te in the afternoon.
How far is Palazzo Te from the station?
About 20 minutes on foot. Ending the itinerary at Palazzo Te is convenient if you’re catching an evening train.
More Mantua itineraries
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- Mantua in half a day: what to see between trains
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- Mantua by bike: the lakes loop and the Mantua–Peschiera cycle path
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- Palazzo Ducale and the Camera degli Sposi in Mantua: a visitor’s guide
- Palazzo Te in Mantua: what to see in Giulio Romano’s villa
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- Mantua for free: what to see without spending a penny
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- How to get to Mantua: train, car, plane and getting around town
- When to visit Mantua: the best time, season by season
- Mantua by night: sunset over the lakes, aperitivo in the piazza and theatres
- Musical Mantua: Teatro Bibiena, Mozart, Monteverdi and Rigoletto
- Mantua in the rain: museums, palaces and arcades for an indoor day
- What to see in Mantua
