Mantua
Mantua, an ancient city that provided the setting for many historical events, is one of the most charming places in Lombardy. It was founded in 2000 BC on two small islands in the Mincio River and was crowned by the poetic genius of the at the time celebrated Virgil and by the gilded magnificence of the Gonzaga family.
The three lakes surrounding the city paint a landscape characterized by serenity and hedonistic abundance. This has caused the enchanting Mantua to be called the " sleeping beauty".
In fact, recalling the beautiful princess of the fable, the town with its excellent quality of life, lies on the green bed of the Padana plain in a privileged geographic position that has made it, during the centuries, a treasure chest of art and culture.
The city oscillates between its natural tourist vocation and the reality of an agricultural centre of prime importance. In addition to the places of international artistic and architectural renown such as the Ducal Palace and the Basilica of Sant'Andrea, the area also offers innumerable spots where it is possible to discover the ancient knowledge and delicious flavours of the Lombardy tradition, beginning with the wine routes and ending in the sweetness of the excellent sbrisolona cake.
The Povince of Mantua is divided into 70 communities distributed across a prevalently flat plain, except for the area near Mantua with the morainic Hills of Garda, the land of the excellent DOC wines. From the point of view of food, the tourist must not miss the numerous traditional manifestations! An example is the carnival at Castel Goffredo, where the "Re Gnocco" is elected, the best connoisseur of the succulent gnocchi that are distributed in the main square.
A trip to Mantua is an occasion not to be missed where you can savour the culture, art and traditions in all their forms!