Visiting the Ducal Palace of Mantua, headquarters of the Gonzaga family's dominion of the city, you'll be enchanted by the paintings by Mantegna, Pisanello, Rubens and Giulio Romano, and by the precious tapestries designed by Raphael. In the private apartment of Isabella d'Este you'll learn about the "First Lady of the Renaissance". After a visit to the Old Town - where the great Basilica of St. Andrea by Leon Battista Alberti is located - you'll finally discover Palazzo Te: the suburban villa designed by Giulio Romano for the leisure time of Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua. This tour lasts about six hours: four and a half hours of guided tour plus a lunch break of one and a half hours (NOT included in the tour price). This tour can be customized by request.
DUCAL PALACE: Isabella d'Este's Private Rooms (Scalcheria, Studiolo, Grotta, Secret Garden); Old Court (Duchesses' Staircase, Domenico Morone's "Battle between the Gonzagas and the Bonacolsis", Pisanello's Arthurian frescoes); Ducal Apartment (Rubens' "The Gonzaga family adoring the Holy Trinity", Gallery of the Mirrors, Vincenzo Gonzaga's apartment); St. George Castle (Bridal Chamber frescoed by Mantegna); New Court (Apartment of Troy designed and frescoed by Giulio Romano, Cortile della Cavallerizza); Old Court (Zodiac Room, Hall of the Rivers, Hanging Garden, Tapestries by Raphael). OLD TOWN: Piazza Sordello; Piazza Lega Lombarda; Piazza Santa Barbara; Piazza Castello; Piazza Broletto; Piazza Erbe; St. Andrea Basilica (exterior). PALAZZO TE: Ovid Room, Room of the Devices, Room of the Sun and the Moon, Hall of the Horses, Chamber of Cupid and Psyche, Room of the Winds, Room of the Eagles, David's Loggia, Room of the Stuccoes, Room of the Emperors, Room of the Giants, Secret Garden and Grotto (if open).
Where and When:
Meet up location: Mantova, Piazza Sordello
End location: Mantova, Viale Te, Palazzo Te exit
Duration: 6 hours
Tour schedule: Morning: first half of the tour (Ducal Palace and Old Town, 3 hours). Noon: lunch break (1 hour) Afternoon: second half of the tour (Palazzo Te, 1 hour 30 mins).
The LUNCH is at leisure, and it is NOT included in the tour price. This tour can be customized by request.
Restrictions:
I am not a driver but I can accompany you in your vehicle or I can arrange for a separate car and driver.
15 EUR - : 7,00 EUR (admission ticket to the Ducal Palace) PLUS 8,00 EUR (admission ticket to Palazzo Te) for each person. The ticket price may change on the occasion of temporary exhibitions.
What's Included:
The price includes: - the guided tour (4 hours 30 mins); - transfer from the Ducal Palace to Palazzo Te via taxi (cab).
What's Extra:
The price does NOT includes: - admission fees; - lunch break; - transfer from Palazzo Te (finishing point) to any destination (but of course I can help you to call a taxi).
This tour does NOT include visits to temporary exhibitions.
Transportation is extra if required.
Details:
Tour #: 24316
Tour Type: Cultural, City
Transportation Method: Walking tour and taxi (cab).
(Sorry: many steps and cobble-stoned pavements make this tour unsuitable for wheelchairs)
Kid Friendly: Yes.
Language(s): Italian (fluent), English (fluent) explanation
Maximum travelers: 10
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Web address (URL) of this page: http://www.ToursByLocals.com/Mantua-Splendors-of-the-Gonzagas
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