|
Mantua district
guide
(Back to
Mantua main information page)
The
beautiful city of Mantua (Mantova) in the Lombardia region, is
located on the shores of three major Italian lakes, Lago
Superiore, Lago Inferiore and Lago di Mezzo artificially created
from the water of river Mincio, it stands
158km (98 miles) E of Milan, 62km (38 miles) N of Parma, 150km
(93 miles) SW of Venice.
Described as one of Lombardy's finest cities, it is in the
farthest reaches of the region, making it a logical addition to
a trip to Venice or Parma as well as to Milan.
Together
with the lowlands, the river and the lakes has helped
Mantua to
become the strongest fortress in Italy.
The city is
well known by the lover of Shakespeare?s tragedy Romeo and
Juliet being the setting of Romeo exile and the
scene of Verdi's masterpiece the Rigoletto.
Aldous
Huxley described Mantua as the most romantic city in the world,
and indeed the city offer to the visitor a unique romantic
atmosphere with its interlinking square, arcades and medieval
monuments, and
meandering river, the Mincio with its moodily romantic lakes.
Often shrouded in mist and surrounded by flat plains, Mantua can
seem almost melancholy
Indeed,
this
beautiful city was one of the greatest Renaissance Courts in
Europe and home of the wealthy Gonzaga family,
who rose from peasant origins to
conquer the city in 1328 and ruled benevolently until 1707.
It is an
agricultural, industrial, and tourist center. Manufactures
include machinery, metals, furniture, and refined petroleum.
In 2005,
Mantua was declared by Legambiente the most liveable city in
Italy based on quality of life, services, and the level of
pollution.
The best
times to visit Mantua are during the spring and the fall. The
city becomes very crowded during the summer, and fog is an
unpleasant part of the cold winter months.
Food
attractions
include a pike in green sauce, luccio in salsa. A special
pasta, tortelli di zucca, tortelli filled with pumpkin or
squash, ground amaretti cookies, and mostarda.
Since Mantua is in the rice-growing region, you will also find
some excellent risotto dishes.
(Back to
Mantua main information page)
|
