Palazzo Te, a masterpiece of Mannerist architecture designed by Giulio Romano, was built between 1524 and 1534 for Federico II Gonzaga, the Marquess of Mantua, as a palace of leisure. This stunning villa is renowned for its extraordinary frescoes and grand rooms. Highlights include the Sala dei Giganti with its ancient graffiti, where colossal frescoes depict the dramatic fall of the giants, and the Sala di Amore e Psiche, illustrating the mythological love story of Cupid and Psyche.

Palazzo Ducale is a magnificent complex where the powerful Gonzaga family resided from the 14th to the 17th century. This sprawling palace boasts around 500 rooms and covers 34,000 square meters, making it the sixth-largest palace in Europe! The highlight of the residence is the Camera degli Sposi, adorned with exquisite frescoes by Andrea Mantegna. Be sure to also see the stunning Cortile della Cavallerizza. Visitors can wander through the inner courtyards and gardens, explore the majestic Castle of San Giorgio, and admire the extensive art collections within the palace

The "Basilica of Sant'Andrea" is a Roman Catholic co-cathedral and minor basilica[http://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/architetture/schede/MN360-01039/ Basilica Concattedrale di S. Andrea - complesso][http://www.gcatholic.org/churches/italy/0080.htm Basilica di S. Andrea Apostolo] on GCatholic.org in Mantua, Lombardy. It is one of the major works of 15th-century Renaissance architecture in Northern Italy. Commissioned by Ludovico III Gonzaga, the church was begun in 1472 according to designs by Leon Battista Alberti on a site occupied by a Benedictine monastery, of which the bell tower remains. The building, however, was only finished 328 years later. Though later changes and expansions altered Alberti's design, the church is still considered to be one of Alberti's most complete works. It looms over the Piazza Mantegna.

Castello di San Giorgio, part of Mantua's Ducal Palace, is a striking example of late medieval military architecture. Built between 1395 and 1406 for Francesco I Gonzaga, it is the oldest building in the Palazzo Ducale complex. With its four massive corner towers and a moat crossed by three drawbridges, it makes a monumental and well-fortified impression. The castle was transformed from a fortress into a luxurious residence by Ludovico III Gonzaga in the 15th century, becoming a cultural hub under Isabella d'Este, who hosted notable artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Andrea Mantegna. (However, da Vinci refused Isabella's repeated requests to commission a painting.) When Mantua became part of the Austrian Empire in 1814 the fortress became a maximum security prison for the Empire's political opponents.

Piazza delle Erbe, situated right in Mantua's historic center, is a lively square. Surrounded by notable landmarks such as the Rotonda di San Lorenzo, the Torre dell'Orologio and the Basilica di Sant'Andrea, the piazza is an important location to explore the town. With its numerous cafes, shops and gelateria, it's the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely stroll, or simply relax and soak in the bustling atmosphere​.

Don't miss this treat if you are in Mantua! Teatro Bibiena, also known as Teatro Scientifico, is a jewel of Baroque architecture, designed by Antonio Galli Bibiena and completed in 1769. Constructed for the Royal Virgilian Academy of Science and Arts, the theatre in Mantua was designed in late Baroque or early Rococo style by Antonio Galli Bibiena. This intimate theater, with about 200 seats encircled by ornate boxes designed for two, is famous for its elliptical shape and intricate decorations. It's not like any theatre you have ever seen before. It even hosted a 14-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1770. Visitors can enjoy guided tours to explore its elegant box seats and stunning frescoes, and even attend concerts in this historical venue.

St. Peter's Cathedral, located in Piazza Sordello, is a beautiful example of Mantua’s rich architectural heritage. Destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt in 1395–1401. Today the cathedral features an overlay of three styles: the late Baroque facade, the Gothic left flank, and the Romanesque bell tower. Inside, visitors are greeted by a stunning array of Corinthian columns, leading to a beautifully adorned main altar made of polychrome marble and topped with a finely carved wooden crucifix​.

The Rotonda di San Lorenzo, Mantua's most ancient church, dates back to the late 11th century and is a remarkable Romanesque building. Located in Piazza delle Erbe, this circular church stands on the remains of a Roman temple dedicated to Venus. Today it has sunk below the level of the Piazza della Erbe. Its design was inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It features original Byzantine frescoes from the 11th and 12th centuries and a unique matronaeum, a gallery reserved for women. After centuries of neglect, it was restored in the early 20th century, revealing its ancient beauty to visitors once more.

Palazzo D'Arco is an elegant neoclassical palace, redesigned in 1783. It is located on Piazza Carlo D'Arco #4. Inside, you'll find the Museo di Palazzo d'Arco, which showcases the elegant furnishings and impressive artwork collected by the D'Arco family. Despite being bombed during World War II, the palace retains its charm. The highlight of a visit is the Sala dello Zodiaco, a room adorned with beautiful frescoes by Giovanni Maria Falconetto.

The "Piazza Virgiliana" is an oblong shaped park in the center of Mantua, region of Lombardy Italy. It spans from a circumvailling Piazza Virgilliana street, fed from Piazza dei Filipinni by Via Virgilio, and stretching northwest towards Lago di Mezzo, from which it is separated by a wall and a span of the busy SS62 highway. The park has a number of tree-lined trails, and commemorative statues, most prominent of which is a monument to Virgil with flanking fountains.

The Basilica Palatina di Santa Barbara was commissioned by Duke Guglielmo Gonzaga and designed by Giovan Battista Bertani. Built between 1562 and 1572, this Renaissance gem features a unique square dome and houses a remarkable 16th-century organ by Graziadio Antegnati. Adorned with exquisite frescoes, the basilica offers visitors a glimpse into the opulent religious life of the Gonzaga family.

The church of San Sebastiano (or temple of the Fallen) is an early Renaissance gem in Mantua, and was designed by the renowned architect Leon Battista Alberti. Construction began in 1460 but was left incomplete by the mid-1470s, leaving little of Alberti’s work beyond his innovative design. Notably, the church features a Greek cross plan and a façade without columns, marking a significant shift in architectural style. Considered one of the earliest examples of Renaissance centrally-planned churches, it was originally intended as a mausoleum for the Gonzaga family and includes a ground-level crypt. Today the temple is used as a 'famedia' of the Fallen.

The "Teatro Sociale" of Mantua is the largest historical theater located in the Municipality of Mantua; a theater of tradition, it is situated in the historic center of the city and is owned by the Società dei Palchettisti. It was built between 1817 and 1822 by the renowned Ticinese architect Luigi Canonica.

The "Palazzo San Sebastiano" is a 16th-century palace in Mantua. Built by the Gonzaga family, since 19 March 2005 it has housed Mantua's city museum. "Mantova. Il Museo della Città", Benetti S., Erbesato GM., Pisani C., Milano, Skira, 2005

Piazza Sordello, dedicated to the medieval troubadour Sordello da Goito, is the heart of Mantua. Built in 1330, this medieval square is home to the Cathedral of San Pietro and the 13th-century Palazzo Bonacolsi. Visitors can also explore remnants of an imperial Roman villa's mosaic floors. The oldest square of the town is also a lively spot with frequent cultural events.

The "Casa del Mantegna" is a 15th-century building that Andrea Mantegna constructed and used in Mantua, probably as a home and studio. Mantegna moved to Mantua when Marquis Ludovico III Gonzaga appointed him court painter.

The Church of San Francesco in Mantua, founded by the Franciscan Order in 1304, is a historic gem with a tumultuous past. From 1811, it was used as an arsenal by the Austrians. In 1942, the Franciscans returned to the monastery and reopened the church for services. Though repurposed and damaged over the centuries, including during World War II, it still showcases its Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The church features preserved frescoes, such as those depicting St. Francis receiving the stigmata, and houses the Cappella Gonzaga, known for its beautiful frescoes of St. Louis of Toulouse.

thumb The "Historical Gallery of the Firefighters of Mantova" is the largest exhibition in Italy, For other exhibitions see [http://www.vigilfuoco.it/aspx/Page.aspx?IdPage=4114 list taken from vigilfuoco.it] of vehicles and historical memorabilia of the firefighters.

The "Pescherie di Giulio Romano" are a historic building in Mantua.

The Torre dell'Orologio, built in the 15th century, is a nice landmark at the Piazza delle Erbe. This Renaissance tower houses an intricate astronomical clock designed by Bartolomeo Manfredi, displaying not just time but also lunar phases and zodiac positions. Inside the connected Palazzo della Ragione, visitors can explore exhibitions on the clock's history and mechanism, and enjoy panoramic views of the city from the top.

The Palazzo della Ragione, built between 1242 and 1250, served as Mantua’s city hall, courthouse, and market hall. This historical gem features a beautiful astronomical clock tower added in the 15th century, which once guided the daily lives of Mantua's citizens. Visitors can explore the vast main hall, which now hosts exhibitions, and enjoy panoramic views at the clock tower.

Casa di Rigoletto, located at Piazza Sordello 23, is a historic building famously depicted in the original set design of Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Rigoletto". This medieval house, updated in the 15th century, was chosen in 1851 to represent the home of the fictional jester Rigoletto. In the garden, visitors can find a bronze statue of Rigoletto, created by sculptor Aldo Falchi in 1978. Today, the house serves as a tourist office

The "National Archaeological Museum of Mantua" is an archaeological museum located in Mantua, Italy. It is located at the Palazzo Ducale and holds objects discovered from excavations in the surrounding territory. [https://www.mantovaducale.beniculturali.it/it/museo-archeologico/ beniculturali] The museum is operated by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities of Italy.

Situated between Piazza Broletto and Piazza delle Erbe, the Palazzo del Podestà (or Palazzo del Broletto) is an architectural gem dating back to the 13th century. Originally built as the commune's government offices, it features a Renaissance-style facade. Look closely: in a niche with a well-worn13th-statue depicts Virgil at his desk.

The "Casa del Mercante" or "Casa di Boniforte da Concorezzo" is a historic building located on Piazza delle Erbe in Mantua, at the corner of Piazza Andrea Mantegna.

The "Museo Francesco Gonzaga" is the diocesan museum of the Diocese of Mantua.

The Torre della Gabbia, a medieval tower in Mantua, stands at 55 meters tall and was originally built by the Acerbi family. It was later sold to Pinamonte Bonacolsi in 1281 and eventually integrated into the Guerrieri Gonzaga palace. The tower got its current name in 1576 when Duke Guglielmo Gonzaga installed an iron cage built as an "open-air prison" to publicly display prisoners. Famous is a thief named Marchino Ziganti who was caged there for three months.

"San Barnaba" is a Roman Catholic church located at the intersection of Via Giovanni Chiassi and Via Carlo Poma in Mantua, Lombardy, Italy.

The "Palazzo Bonacolsi", also known as "Palazzo Castiglioni", is a 13th-century Gothic-style aristocratic palace located in the center of the town in Piazza Sordello in front of the Ducal Palace in Mantua, region of Lombardy, Italy.

The "Church of Santa Maria del Gradaro" was built in Mantua starting in the year 1256, with the addition of the convent in 1260. The term "Gradaro" is derived from the Latin word "cretarium," which would describe the particular characteristic of the land where the original place of worship was established.

The "Virgilian Forest," named after the greatest Latin poet, Publius Vergilius Maro, born in the nearby location of Pietole Vecchia, the ancient Roman Andes, is a public park that extends over five hectares in the southern part of the city of Mantua, between the Valletta Valsecchi district, the Mincio River, and the Migliaretto, a state-owned area used as an airfield until 1973.

The "Monument to Virgil" is a bronze sculpture located in Mantua in Virgiliana Square.

The "Tazio Nuvolari and Learco Guerra Museum" is a museum located in Mantua, housed in the former church of Carmelino.

Casa di Giulio Romano in Mantua is an architectural gem designed by the renowned Renaissance artist himself in 1544. This unique residence reflects Giulio Romano’s personal style, featuring a striking facade with intricate stonework and distinctive arches. Inside, visitors can admire frescoes and original elements that showcase the artist’s ingenuity and creativity.

The Church of "Sant'Orsola" in Mantua, Italy, was designed and built in 1608 by Antonio Maria Viani, the architect of the ducal court of the House of Gonzaga. The church was commissioned by Margherita Gonzaga d'Este, the widow of Alfonso II d'Este. Margherita, while not a nun herself, as a widow came to live in an apartment in the Clarissan monastery that was once adjacent.

The "Church of Santa Paola" is a religious building in Mantua, located in Piazza dei Mille.

The "Zuccaro Tower" is a medieval construction that rises at Via Tazzoli 10 in Mantua, in the immediate vicinity of the Ducal Citadel of the Gonzagas and the historically main square of the city, Piazza Sordello. It is locally known in dialect as "Tor dal Sücar," or "tower of sugar," a name likely originating from the linguistic deformation of the name of the family that owned it in the sixteenth century. Additionally, the Mantuan historian Davari believed that the name derived from the use of the tower, until 1769, as a salt warehouse, a mineral that in the local dialect was referred to as "sücar brüsc," meaning sour sugar.

The "Voltone di San Pietro" or "Porta di San Pietro" was one of three ancient gates until the end of the 13th century. The other two were: Porta San Giorgio and Porta Sant’Agnese, which, integrated into the first city wall, blocked access to Piazza San Pietro, the center of the "civitas vetus" of Mantua.

"Palazzo Canossa" is a historic building in Mantua, located in Piazza Matilde di Canossa.

"Santa Maria della Vittoria" was a medieval chapel or small church in Mantua located on Piazzetta di San Simone.

"Piazza Broletto" is one of the main squares in Mantua, located in the historic center, between Piazza Sordello and Piazza delle Erbe.

"Palazzo Cavriani" is an aristocratic palace with gardens located in Mantua, Italy. The palace is also sometimes referred to as the "Palazzo Gonzaga-Spolverini", but the palace belonging to those families was either razed or subsumed into the present neoclassical structure and garden.

The "Civic Museum of Palazzo Te" is a museum in Mantua.

"Palazzo Bianchi" or "Bishop's Palace" is a building located in Piazza Sordello in Mantua. [http://www.lombardiabeniculturali.it/architetture/schede/MN360-01137/ Lombardy Cultural Heritage. Palazzo Bianchi.]

The "Rocca di Sparafucile" is a military building in Mantua.

"Palazzo Andreani" or "Palazzo della Camera di commercio" is a historic building in the center of Mantua, home to the Chamber of Commerce of Mantua. The building is in eclectic style and combines elements of Art Nouveau, Neo-Gothic, and Eastern-inspired details.

"San Maurizio" is a domed Baroque, Roman Catholic church designed by Antonio Maria Viani, and located on Via Chiassi, Mantua, Italy. It was once called ‘’Santi Maurizio e Margherita’’.

The "Piazza Castello" is one of the most important squares in the historic center of Mantua.

"Palazzo Valenti Gonzaga" is a historic building in Mantua, located at via Pietro Frattini 7.

The "Norsa Torrazzo Synagogue," built in 1513 but rebuilt in 1751, is located in the building at via Govi 13 in Mantua.

"Ca' degli Uberti" is a historic building located in Piazza Sordello in Mantua, nestled between the Bonacolsi Palace and the Bishop's Palace.

"Porta Giulia" was one of the gates of the city of Mantua, the only one remaining from the fortifications of the time and considered one of the most beautiful urban gates of the Renaissance.

The "Monument to the Martyrs of Belfiore" was erected to commemorate the patriots of the Italian Risorgimento who were executed between 1851 and 1855 on the southern shore of Lake Superior in the valley of Belfiore, which at the time was part of the municipality of Curtatone and is currently in Mantova.

"Porta Pradella" was one of the gates of the city of Mantua.

The "Church of the Madonna del Terremoto" is a small Baroque style, Roman Catholic church in central Mantua, region of Lombardy, Italy.

The "Casa della Cervetta" is a reconstructed historic building in the center of Mantua.

The "Church of San Cristoforo" is a deconsecrated religious building in Mantua, owned by the State, located at the corner of Via Giulio Romano and Via Acerbi. The church is situated on the outskirts of the historic city center, along one of the main arteries leading to the marshy area of Tè, where the stables of the famous horses, a pride of the Gonzaga family, were located.

"Palazzo Acerbi" is a historic palace in Mantua and is located in Piazza Sordello. [https://www.google.it/books/edition/Mantova_e_provincia/EYz7qJ4ewbgC?hl=it&gbpv=1&dq=palazzo+acerbi+mantova&pg=PA37&printsec=frontcover Touring Club Italiano. Mantova e Provincia.]

"Santi Simone e Giuda" is a Renaissance architecture, Roman Catholic church located in Mantua, region of Lombardy, Italy. The church rises near the Palazzo d'Arco and the Church of the Fillipines in Mantua.

The "Gonzaga Chapel," located within the Church of San Francesco in Mantua, was built at the behest of the Gonzaga family and was intended to serve as the family's pantheon. It was used by the early members of the dynasty, from the 14th century to the end of the 15th century.

The "Palazzo del Mago" is a historic building in Mantua, located at Piazza San Leonardo, 1.

The "Torre del Salaro" or also "Torre del Sale" is a family tower in the northern Italian city of Mantua in Lombardy. It is located in the old town of Mantua, surrounded by several houses at Piazza Andrea Mantegna, in close proximity to Piazza delle Erbe. On the northeast side of the tower, the Casa del Mercante leans against it.