Mantova walking tour: Streets, squares & monuments in 90 mins

Ninety minutes on foot through Mantova's layered past, from Roman foundations to Renaissance facades

A 90-minute walking tour of Mantova's streets and squares with a professional Italian-speaking guide, covering the city's history and major monuments from the outside. The tour starts at Piazza Sordello and passes through Via Accademia, Piazza Broletto, Piazza delle Erbe, the Clock Tower, the Rotunda of San Lorenzo, Piazza Andrea Mantegna and the Basilica of Sant'Andrea, ending at the House Viani Tallarico. Groups are limited to a maximum of 10 people, and a minimum of 2 people is required to book.

Step-by-step itinerary

Walking tour of Mantua's historic sites

• Meet in Piazza Sordello
• Walk through Via Accademia
• Visit Piazza Broletto
• Explore Piazza delle Erbe
• See the Clock Tower
• View Rotunda of San Lorenzo exterior
• Continue to Piazza Andrea Mantegna
• Visit Basilica of Sant'Andrea exterior
• Walk to Piazza Marconi
• See House Viani Tallarico exterior

The experience

You meet in Piazza Sordello, the ancient heart of Mantova where Etruscan and Roman settlements once lay beneath the current city. From there the guide walks you through the streets and squares that shaped the city's identity: Via Accademia, Piazza Broletto with its medieval architecture, and Piazza delle Erbe, where the Clock Tower and the Rotunda of San Lorenzo, the oldest church in town, anchor centuries of history. The route is exterior only, so you see the buildings and monuments from the street rather than stepping inside them.

The walk continues to Piazza Andrea Mantegna and the Basilica of Sant'Andrea, one of the few interiors included when services are not in progress and the doors are open. You finish at the House Viani Tallarico, the sole surviving example of the decorative style that once adorned the old town's residential facades. The guide speaks Italian throughout, and the pace suits all fitness levels, though you will be on your feet for the full 90 minutes across the city's squares and cobbled streets.

What’s included

• Professional guide in Italian.
• walk through Piazza Sordello, Via Accademia, Piazza Broletto, Piazza delle Erbe, the Clock Tower, the Rotunda of San Lorenzo, Piazza Andrea Mantegna, the Basilica of Sant'Andrea and the House Viani Tallarico.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (20 to 59 years) · Under 20: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideItalian

Audio guideItalian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Guidamica Mantova

Is this one for you?Small groups of up to 10 people suit this tour, keeping the pace manageable and the guide's voice clear as you move through the squares. The 90-minute duration fits a morning or afternoon slot without consuming a full day, so it pairs well with other activities in Mantova.

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Top questions

What is Piazza Sordello and why does the tour start there?

Piazza Sordello is the heart of ancient Mantova, built over the Etruscan and Roman settlement that gave the city its origin. The tour begins there to establish the city's layered history before moving through the streets and squares that developed around it.

Does the tour go inside churches and museums?

The tour covers only exteriors (streets and squares) with one exception: the Basilica of Sant'Andrea, which you may enter if no services are taking place and it is open. No museum entries are included.

How many people can join one tour?

Groups are limited to a maximum of 10 people per booking, and a minimum of 2 people is required to operate the tour.

What is the House Viani Tallarico?

The House Viani Tallarico is the only remaining example of the decorative style that once adorned the homes of Mantova's old town. It is the final stop on the tour and shows how residents decorated their facades in earlier centuries.

What should I wear and what if the weather is bad?

Dress in smart casual clothing. The tour operates in all weather conditions, so dress appropriately for rain or cold if needed, since you will be walking outdoors for the entire 90 minutes.