Mantua holds a special place in the history of music. In 1607 the Gonzaga court staged Claudio Monteverdi’s Orfeo, considered one of the first operas in history. In 1770 a thirteen-year-old Mozart played in the brand-new Teatro Bibiena. And Giuseppe Verdi set his Rigoletto here.
This walking itinerary links the places of musical Mantua. It starts from the station, where you can leave your bags at Mantova Locker, and ends with a concert, if the programme allows.
At a glance: half a day · approx. 3 km on foot · music and theatre
The stops
1. Teatro Bibiena
Designed by Antonio Galli Bibiena and inaugurated in 1769, it has a bell-shaped auditorium with four tiers of painted wooden boxes. On 16 January 1770 the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed here. It can be visited when there are no performances, and it still hosts concerts.
2. Palazzo Ducale: the court of Orfeo
Monteverdi was maestro di cappella (master of music) at the Gonzaga palace, and Orfeo was first performed here. A visit to the palace, with Mantegna’s Camera degli Sposi, helps you imagine the luxury of a court that commissioned music, festivities and spectacles.
3. House of Rigoletto
In Piazza Sordello, the medieval house that tradition associates with the jester of Verdi’s opera, with a statue of Rigoletto in the garden. Verdi set the opera at the court of the Duke of Mantua.
4. Basilica of Sant’Andrea
Not a musical venue in the strict sense, but Alberti’s great nave has extraordinary acoustics and occasionally hosts organ and sacred music concerts.
5. Teatro Sociale
The city’s great neoclassical theatre, inaugurated in 1822, with its colonnaded façade on Piazza Cavallotti. It is the main venue for the opera and drama season.
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
- The Teatro Bibiena is closed on Mondays and during rehearsals, concerts and conferences: check opening times in advance.
- Look at the Teatro Sociale and Teatro Bibiena programmes before your trip: a concert in an 18th-century theatre is a rare experience.
- Book the Camera degli Sposi if you want to fit Palazzo Ducale into the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Teatro Bibiena famous?
Because it is a rare bell-shaped 18th-century theatre, designed by Antonio Galli Bibiena, and because Mozart played there in 1770 at the age of thirteen.
Can you visit the Teatro Bibiena?
Yes, when there are no rehearsals or performances. It also hosts concerts, which are the best way to experience it.
Is Rigoletto set in Mantua?
Yes, Verdi set the opera at the court of the Duke of Mantua. In Piazza Sordello there’s the so-called House of Rigoletto.
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
- Mantua in the rain: museums, palaces and arcades for an indoor day
- What to see in Mantua
