Tours & Activities in Mantua

Spend a day shopping at Mantova Outlet Village, get exclusive discounts on the best-selected brands and enjoy an aperitif or breakfast for two people.

Experience the charm of Verona and visit the Roman Arena with pre-reserved tickets. Stroll the medieval lanes, enjoy a cable car ride, and explore iconic sites like Juliet's balcony and Romeo's house.

Gonzaga's Residences tour. Mantua owes its beautiful Renaissance monuments to the Gonzaga Lords, who ruled the Mantuan Duchy for almost four centuries, and during their reign they made the city into a Court of grand splendor. The Gonzaga loved both luxury and power, and they lived in somptuous residences such as the huge Palazzo Ducale, their royal residence and the amazing Palazzo Te, intended as place of leisure and pleasure. The Ducal Palace with the gorgeous “Bridal Chamber” by Mantegna and the Te Palace by Giulio Romano’s genius, are some magnificent residences built by the Gonzagas, and an absolute must-see.

Wonder at Mantua's palace of Mannerist treasures

The Doge's Palace, Basilica di Sant'Andrea, the Te Palace... Tour the city and discover the important role of the Gonzaga's lineage with a Mantua Private Tour.

Enjoy a guided walking tour of Mantova, the city where Virgil was born, Shakespeare’s Romeo fled after leaving Verona, Verdi set Rigoletto and the Gonzagas built the Ducal Palace. Explore the fine art at the Ducal Palace, now Italy's largest museum.

Immerse yourself in a private pasta-making class at a local's home, learn the secrets of the region's most famous pasta dishes and taste the fruit of your labour accompanied by a selection of local wine. During the lesson, the local home cook will reveal the tricks of the trade of 3 authentic regional pasta recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test. Each participant will have a workstation equipped with utensils and all the ingredients to make the dishes. Then, taste everything you have prepared accompanied by a selection of red and white local wines. This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of 1000+ home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

An opulent palace with staggeringly beautiful frescoes, paintings and more

Explore the birthplace of Virgil and the setting for Verdi’s “Rigoletto” on a 2-hour walking tour of Mantua. See historic monuments such as the Casa di Rigoletto and marvel at the medieval palaces and Renaissance buildings of public squares.

During this private tour the guide will accompany you to discover the splendid city of Mantua, one of the capitals of the Italian Renaissance. The tour will take place through the historic center, between the gardens of the Ducal residence of the Gonzaga lords, the magnificent Palazzo Ducale and the cathedral that overlook the cobblestones of Piazza Sordello, up to the fabulous lake.

Discover the historical center of Mantua. Starting from the courtyards and gardens of the ducal residence of the Gonzaga lords, you'll encounter the cathedral overlooking the cobbled Piazza Sordello.

Visit the vibrant local market and the traditional food shops with the Cesarina and immerse yourself in a private cooking class at the Cesarina's home, learn the secrets of the most famous dishes of cuisine from Mantua and taste the fruit of your labour accompanied by a glass of local wine. During the lesson the Cesarina will reveal the tricks of the trade of 3 authentic regional recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test. Each participant will have a workstation equipped with utensils and all the ingredients to make the dishes. Then, taste everything you have prepared accompanied by a selection of red and white local wines. Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of 1000+ home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Tour a vibrant local market with a local chef. Learn about Italian cuisine during a cooking demonstration. Enjoy a private lunch or dinner including drinks.

Artistic hub in Mantua, that deserves to be suitably explained is Palazzo Te, a suburban villa devoted to the pleasures of leisure. Architect Giulio Romano, as the heir of his great master Raphael, is called from Rome to build and decorate this Renaissance villa between 1525 and 1535, inspired by ancient Roman villas. Palazzo Te is an exemplary model of the Mannerist style as about architecture and an outstanding example of 16th century Italian painting. The name of the building derives from that of the place where it was built: the “island of Tejeto”, abbreviated as “Te”, where mantuan Lords held the ducal stables for the breeding of famous Gonzaga thoroughbred trained for battlefields and tournaments.

Immerse yourself in a 4-course private dining experience in a local's home. You will enjoy an exclusive cooking demo and taste authentic recipes, before sitting down to enjoy your creation.

Mantua, 'the City on Water of the Gonzagas'. This tour's highlights: Piazza Sordello with Duomo, Bishop’s Palace, Palazzo Ducale with its courtyards and gardens, Piazza Broletto and Piazza Erbe with Palazzo Comunale and Palazzo della Ragione, Clock Tower, Rotonda of S. Lorenzo and Basilica of S. Andrea, Via Orefici with the Canal “Rio”. On request visit to the Academy Theatre (Teatro Bibiena) entrance ticket €. 2,00

Tour a vibrant local market and immerse yourself in a private cooking class in a local home with a certified home cook. You will learn local recipes, before later tasting everything you've created with wines included.

Walk through the streets and squares of Mantova, discovering its history and the most important monuments. This tour covers only the exteriors (streets and squares).

Enjoy the warmth of cooking authentic Italian food at the home of a certified local cook. Learn local recipes over a glass of wine. Savor all the dishes you make.

Guided walking tour in Mantua with a friendly, English-speaking local guide. Food, art, nature and a welcoming atmosphere; that’s what makes Mantua one of the best cities to visit in Italy. Discover the Gonzaga family's incredible legacy, where Shakespeare’s Romeo was banished, Verdi’s Rigoletto was set and Opera was born. Discover an amazing Unesco World Heritage Site and the reason why the greatest Italian Renaissance writer, Torquato Tasso, wrote “...Mantua is a magnificent town, worth a thousand mile travel to see it...”

You'll learn the two methods of preparing pesto receiving tips on how to properly store the pesto to keep it fresh for as long as possible.

Discover Mantua, Unesco World Heritage Site since 2008 and 2016 Italian capital of culture. Join this engaging 3-hours tour and explore Mantua city centre and the Ducal Palace, one of Italy's greatest treasures, with a professional private local guide. Mantua surprises its visitors by her exceptional character: Small but spectacular, from every corner the city of Mantua offers an encounter with history and beauty. Visit Mantua, where artistic wonders, great food and sheer beauty conspire to make life sweeter.

Enjoy a fresh pasta cooking class, in a local home, with a certified home cook. Learn local recipes and taste everything you make with some wine.

Journey to discover the "Villa degli Ozi", wanted by Federico II as a place of relaxation, quiet, fun and ... much more!

The city in the city, a symbol of the power and wealth of the Gonzagasch dynasty, hides within it small treasures, surprises, games and wonders that will amaze and fascinate you.