Rain won’t spoil a visit to Mantua: the city is full of museums, palaces and churches, and the centre has long stretches of arcades. Just plan your route so you move from one indoor sight to the next with only a few minutes outside.
The first tip is to travel light: umbrellas and trolley cases on wet cobblestones are a terrible combination. Leave your suitcases at Mantova Locker, just a short walk from the station.
At a glance: 1 day · short stretches outdoors · everyone
The stops
1. Palazzo Ducale and the Camera degli Sposi
A palace with hundreds of rooms can fill a rainy morning on its own: the Camera degli Sposi, the Pisanello Hall, the Raphael tapestries, the apartments of Isabella d’Este.
2. National Archaeological Museum
Overlooking Piazza Sordello, it tells the story of Mantua and its territory from prehistory to the Roman, Lombard and medieval periods.
3. Museo Diocesano Francesco Gonzaga
Sacred art, goldsmiths’ work and a rare collection of 15th- and 16th-century armour from the Sanctuary of Grazie.
4. The arcades and the Basilica of Sant’Andrea
From the Piazza delle Erbe area, the arcades of Corso Umberto I let you walk under cover past shops and cafés. Then the great nave of Sant’Andrea, with Mantegna’s chapel.
5. Palazzo d’Arco
An aristocratic residence with its original furniture, paintings and collections and, in the garden, the Hall of the Zodiac, frescoed by Giovanni Maria Falconetto in the early 16th century.
6. Teatro Bibiena
The bell-shaped 18th-century theatre where Mozart played in 1770: a short but precious visit, possible when there are no performances.
7. Palazzo Te
If the weather gives you a break, end the day at Giulio Romano’s villa: the Chamber of the Giants is indoors, and you can see the garden next time.
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
- Many state museums close on Mondays: on a rainy Monday, check carefully which ones are open.
- Book the Camera degli Sposi: in bad weather the museums get busier than usual.
- Wear shoes with non-slip soles: wet cobblestones and porphyry paving are treacherous.
- Many museums don’t allow large backpacks and umbrellas in the rooms: they must be left in the cloakroom.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Mantua when it rains?
Visit Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo Te, Palazzo d’Arco, the Archaeological Museum, the Diocesan Museum and the Teatro Bibiena, moving between them under the arcades of the centre.
What museums are there in Mantua?
The main ones are Palazzo Ducale with the Camera degli Sposi, Palazzo Te, Palazzo d’Arco, the National Archaeological Museum and the Museo Diocesano Francesco Gonzaga.
Are there arcades in the centre of Mantua?
Yes, especially along Corso Umberto I and around Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza Broletto.
More Mantua itineraries
- Mantua in one day: a walking itinerary through the Gonzaga masterpieces
- A weekend in Mantua: what to see in two days of art, theatre and lakes
- Mantua in half a day: what to see between trains
- Mantua on the water: lakes, boat trips on the Mincio and lotus flowers
- Mantua by bike: the lakes loop and the Mantua–Peschiera cycle path
- Mantua for food lovers: an itinerary of pumpkin tortelli, risotto and sbrisolona
- 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
- Sabbioneta from Mantua: a day trip to the Gonzaga ideal city
- Mantua with kids: things to do among castles, boats and nature
- Mantua for free: what to see without spending a penny
- Around Mantua: 6 villages and places for a day trip
- Mantua in 3 days: a complete itinerary of the city, the lakes and Sabbioneta
- 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
- What to see in Mantua
