Mantua in two days
Day One
You can spend the morning in the historic centre. Start at Piazza delle Erbe, where you will find the Palazzo della Ragione, the Palazzo del Podestà, the Rotonda di San Lorenzo and the Torre dell'Orologio. Then you'll see Piazza Broletto and the grandiose Piazza Sordello, with the luxurious halls of the Palazzo Ducale and the Cattedrale di San Pietro. Continue towards the lake to reach the Castello di San Giorgio and the Camera degli Sposi, the fresco masterpiece by Andrea Mantegna to honour the Gonzaga family - booking is necessary to visit.
In the afternoon, you can make your way to Palazzo Te, the most praised creation by the architect Giulio Romano. Amongst the halls filled with myths and mysteries, you can hear the echo of footsteps of the nobles of Mantua. The most well-known part of Palazzo Te is the Salone dei Giganti (Room of the Giants), with frescos depicting gods and cyclops by Giulio Romano. Close by is the Palazzo San Sebastiano, home to the city's museum - il Museo della Città - and the Casa del Mantegna, home to temporary exhibitions.
For dinner, you can choose one of the many typical restaurants in the historic centre. Popular typical dishes are pumpkin tortelli, the Chisœla - which is a type of fried savoury focaccia; risotto con i saltaréi - risotto with fried river prawns; beef stews and boiled meats with polenta; and a local cake called torta sbrisolòna.
