Golden Suites ItalyA weekend in Mantua, the city of the Gonzaga
Suspended over its three lakes, Mantua is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a capital of traditional cooking and under two hours from Milan, Verona and Bologna.
Saturday: the Gonzaga Renaissance
The morning belongs to Palazzo Ducale: a city within the city, 900 rooms culminating in Mantegna's Camera degli Sposi, one of the high points of Italian art. Lunch in the centre with pumpkin tortelli and risotto alla pilota, then an afternoon taking in Piazza Sordello, Piazza delle Erbe with the Rotonda di San Lorenzo, and Alberti's Basilica di Sant'Andrea.
At sunset, the walk along the Lungolago dei Gonzaga: the city's skyline mirrored in the water is the view that made us fall in love with Mantua.
Sunday: Palazzo Te and the lakes
Devote the morning to Palazzo Te, Federico II's villa of pleasures: Giulio Romano's Sala dei Giganti is an experience you will not forget. Then choose your finale: a boat trip on the lakes among the lotus flowers, or the Mantua–Peschiera cycle path along the Mincio (with our bike-rental offer).
Where to stay and how to get here
The apartments in Mantua you will find on Golden Suites are mostly in the historic centre, where everything is within walking distance. With the Italo discount reserved for guests, take the train to Verona and carry on from there with a 45-minute regional service; by car, the car rental offers await you. And before you leave, a sbrisolona to take home is a must.
