← Verona Marathon·1 night

Mantua: One Night in the Gonzaga City

A flat city on three lakes, once the seat of the Gonzaga family, with a ducal palace, a frescoed bridal chamber and arcaded streets.

Duration1 night
TransitRegional train from Verona Porta Nuova, about 35 to 50 min
DepartsVerona Porta Nuova

After the Verona Marathon: One Night in Mantua

The Route: Verona Porta Nuova → Mantova (1 night) → Verona → Verona airport Logistics: A regional train, roughly hourly. Mantua's centre is flat and walkable. Marathon Month: November Duration: 1 night

Verona Porta Nuova ──(regional train ~35-50 mins)──> Mantova
                    <────────(same route back)───────────┘

Mantua is a calm, flat city of arcades and squares, surrounded on three sides by lakes made from the Mincio river, and the trip from Verona suits a recovery day. Regional trains run about once an hour and take roughly 35 to 50 minutes, with fares from about EUR 4 to EUR 6 (approximately GBP 3.40 to GBP 5.15). Check times and prices at trenitalia.com.

November in Mantua. Late autumn here is damp, with fog over the lakes and the plain on many mornings. The city looks its best when the mist lifts in the afternoon. Pack a waterproof. In most years the days are cool and grey, though conditions vary.

Night One: The Old Centre

The centre is flat and compact, and a slow loop takes about an hour. Piazza delle Erbe is the market square, with the Rotonda di San Lorenzo, a small Romanesque church, on one side. The Basilica of Sant'Andrea stands on its own square nearby.

The Ducal Palace, the former seat of the Gonzaga family, is a large complex that includes the Camera degli Sposi, a room painted by Andrea Mantegna in the 15th century. Entry to the room is timed and often restricted, so book ahead and check the opening days, because many large museums close on Mondays, which is the day you will arrive. Palazzo Te, a villa built for the Gonzaga outside the old centre, is a short, flat walk or bus ride away. Check its opening hours and prices.

Walking beside the lakes at dusk is a gentle way to end the day, on flat paved paths.

Where to stay: Hotel San Lorenzo is a central hotel on Piazza Concordia, close to the market square. Hotel Rechigi is also in the old centre. Check rates and cancellation terms.

Where to eat: Mantua's cooking uses pumpkin and rice. Ask for tortelli di zucca, pumpkin-filled pasta, and for risotto alla pilota, a local rice dish. Sbrisolona, a crumbly almond cake, is the local sweet. Book dinner and check opening days.

Day Two and Return

Spend the morning at the Ducal Palace if you could not get a Monday slot, then take the train back to Verona. For an early flight from Verona airport, return the day before.