The sweet roses of Isabella d'Este: "Torta delle Rose"

A bouquet made with soft roses of pastry and buttercream, known as "Torta delle Rose" ("Cake of Roses") is one of the signature-dishes in the Mantuan gastronomy.
A story goes about the origins of this delicious dessert: it is said that the cake was first created on the occasion of the marriage of Isabella d'Este and Francesco II Gonzaga.
Although we have not any document, which validates this legend, every pastry-chef in Mantua will tell you that this cake is connected with the Renaissance.

Click here for the recipe (scroll the page down for the English version), or follow this video-recipe:

What a Christmas Gift! The best review ever!

Santa Claus has chosen VISITMANTUA for a pre-xmas city break. What an experience! Click here for is review about us.

VISITMANTUA - Proudly guiding Santa Claus around Mantua!

Christmas in Mantua: Santa (Lucia) is coming to town!

In Italy Santa Claus is not the only Christmas gift-giver. In many cities of Italy the kids have their presents delivered by other legendary beings, who visit different areas of Italy in different occasions.
The Christ Child (Christkind) delivers his presents in the area of Milan, and in the northen part of Lombardy, close to the Swiss canton Ticino.
Saint Nicholas visits the area of Friuli on December 6th, and the famous Befana is awaited in many areas, mostly in the central and southern Italy, on January 6th.
In the area of Mantua (and in Brescia, Bergamo, Verona, Parma and Modena as well). the kids are awarded with gifts by Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy).
According to the tradition, in the days before her feast, Saint Lucia descends from heaven and visits the humans. Escorted by a faithful donkey, Lucia goes around every house, and observes the behavior of every child. The children have to be careful: it is forbidden to see the Saint! So Lucia warns the kids about her arrival, ringing a small bell during every visit. If children break the ban and look to the Saint, they will be punished: Lucia will throw some ash in their eyes, making them go blind.
Eventually, during the night between the 12th and 13th December, Santa Lucia pays her last yearly visit to earth, entering in all the houses. Here the Saint finds a little breakfast, prepared for her by the kids, and a bowl of hay for her donkey. In return, Lucia leaves some gifts and sweets for the nice kids. But those who have been naughty will find just ash and coal.

Laura Pausini chooses Mantua

Laura Pausini, the most famous Italian singer in the world, has just released the official video of her brand new single "Se non te"  ("Sino a ti" in the Spanish version).
The music video for the song, recorded in September 2013, shows the love story of Pausini's parents. Although the plot is set in Solarolo, in Emilia-Romagna, the filming was actually shooted in Castiglione delle Stiviere, Medole, and Gastel Goffredo, three villages in the province of Mantua.

The scene in which Pausini's father works in chemist's shop was shooted in the "Farmacia Romagnolo", in Castiglione delle Stiviere.

The scene in which Pausini's mother is sewing, was filmed in the "Casa-Sartoria Pezzini", a tailor's house in Castel Goffredo.
The wedding party scene is set at the "Ristorante da Laura" in Perosso, a suburb of Castel Goffredo.

The theatre shown in the music video is the Theatre of Medole.

Thank you Laura, for loving Mantua!

Scenes in Castiglione delle Stiviere

Scenes in Medole

Helvetia: a Mantuan dessert with a Swiss name

A strong xenophilia is typical in the Mantuan gastronomic tradition. The historical links between the city and the rest of Europe have left strong marks in the local cooking.

A very good example is the Helvetia cake (also spelled Elvetia or Elvezia). Although 'Helvetia' is the Latin name of Switzerland, this cake is typical of Mantua. The dessert was invented at the end of the XVIII century, by the Putscher family. The Putschers were Swiss pastry-chefs, who moved into Mantua from the Graubünden, the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. As soon as they opened a shop in Mantua, the Putschers created this recipe, mixing the Swiss pastry techniques and the local ingredients (such as butter, almonds and sabayon). And they decided to call this cake "Helvetia", as a tribute of fame to their ancient land.

The Helvetia cake is a dacquoise made with layers of almond-meringue, buttercream and sabayon.

A spoon of Belgium in Mantua: the "Budino Belga"

There are some things you can easily imagine about the "Belgian Pudding": it is soft, it is delicious, it has a great taste of chocolate... but there is one thing you probably can not imagine: it is not Belgian!
The "Budino Belga" or "Dolce Belga" (i.e. "Belgian Pudding" or "Belgian Dessert") is a typical dish of the Mantuan gastronomic tradition, made with cream, eggs, vanilla, sugar, chocolate and a glass of cognac.
It is sure it has appeared in Mantua between the 20s and the 30s, but several different versions of the story go about its origin. Maybe it was invented by a belgian pastry chef, who moved in the city. Or maybe it was created for a visit of a Belgian Ambassador. According to the most trustable theory, the recepy was invented by the wife of a Mantuan horse trader, who was dealing for his business with belgian clients (yes: Mantua has a strong connection with horses, since the years of the Gonzaga Family!).
Whatever version of the story you prefer, this is something not to be missed!

The Duke of Mantua appreciated big melons. As today tourists do!

Francesco III Gonzaga appreciated big melons.

Amongst the many vegetables and fruits, who are grown with love in the land of Mantua, the melons (Cucumis melo) are surely the most famous. The flat territory of the province of Mantua perfectly matches the needs of melon plants.
At the time of the Gonzagas, the melons were quite often on the table of the Dukes of Mantua.
On 3rd August 1548, for example, four big, beautiful, juicy melons were sent as presents from the people of the village of Viadana to the Palace of Mantua.
The four pulpy gifts were presented the young Duke, Francesco III Gonzaga, his mother the dowager duchess Margherita Paleologo, and the Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga.
The Duke of Mantua, Francesco III, and his family were great appreciators of the Mantuan melons. And still today melons are often on the tables of Mantuan people, mostly in the summertime.
Want to try them? Visit Mantua and enjoy the fruits of our land!

"Mantua" or "Mantova"?

Dozens of stories go about that couple of foreign tourists, lost in Firenze, desperately looking for “Florence”. It’s an old joke, known in many different variants: sometimes they are in Venezia, looking for “Venice” or in Napoli, searching “Naples”.
To be honest, I have never had this kind of experience: all the tourists I met in my career were smart people, and they knew that “Mantua” was the English name of Mantova. But quite often they asked me what was the right name of the city. Of course you can use both of them, since “Mantua” is the exonym for “Mantova”. And “Mantua” is the word used also in the local dialect and in Latin. So, don’t worry: you can not go wrong using it.
Another frequent question is about the reason of this… in general, many people wonder why the name of some Italian cities are translated in English.
You can find many posts about this topic on Tripadvisor’s forums. And many people blame it on the colonialism of the British Empire.
Actually it has nothing to do with British colonialism... It started centuries before. For example Shakespeare mentions the city of Mantova using the name "Mantua".
The reason is that – during the Middle-Ages and the Renaissance – many diplomatic links have been bound amongst the powerful Italian city-states and foreign countries, so the names of the historic Capitals of the Italian states started to pass the borders, being changed according to the languages of the different countries.
If you notice, for example, only the cities who were VERY famous during the Renaissance have a 'foreign' name: Florence, Milan, Rome, Naples, Mantua, Turin, Venice, Syracuse.
Due to their past glories, all these cities gained the honor of an exonym. And - in my opinion - in sign of respect to history, it is right to use it. A nice way to pay a tribute to the past glories.

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Here’s a list of the main Italian exonyms

Florence - Firenze
Genoa - Genova
Leghorn - Livorno
Mantua - Mantova
Milan - Milano
Naples - Napoli
Nursia - Norcia
Padua - Padova
Rome - Roma
Sienna - Siena
Syracuse - Siracusa
Trent - Trento
Turin - Torino
Venice - Venezia

Let's Visit Mantua via Instagram!

VisitMantua is keen  on the social networks… we do love to keep in touch with our customers, recurring clients and friends. And with all the people who are visiting Mantua as well! So we have added a new widget to our blog! A virtual window on Mantua, overlooking the city via the eyes of Instagram. All the pics tagged as “#Mantova” on Instagram will appear on our blog in real-time!

Enjoy the show, and follow us @visitmantua!
  
 

VisitMantua @ Bit2013

It's business time! VisitMantua is going to attend to BIT - International Tourism Exchange, the event leader in the Italian sector with 2,000 exhibitors from 120 Countries. Waiting for it, let's have a look to the opinion of some of our best clients!
Your satisfaction is our business!

Lorenzo Bonoldi is one of our company's finest local guides in Italy. His pre-tour preparations (maps, pictures, and mini-histories) are unique and impressive, and our travelers love his great combination of broad knowledge and accessible presentation. When we take our clients who have toured with Lorenzo to other countries, they often ask: "Find us a French/English/German Lorenzo Bonoldi!"
Jordan Cook
Program Manager - International Seminar Design, Inc.

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Not only has his expertise of art, history and culture proved to be superior; but his manner of professionalism and utmost respect for my groups has proved Mr. Bonoldi as our company's preferred guide in Italy. On several occasions my clients have specifically requested Mr. Bonoldi as their group's guide after having experienced one of his tours. When booking a tour with Mr. Bonoldi, I can consistently count on Mr. Bonoldi's proficiency and organization to cultivate an atmosphere of positive interaction amongst my groups. If I could travel to every European city with Mr. Lorenzo Bonoldi as my guide, I most certainly would.
Elizabeth Deans
Program Manager - International Seminar Design, Inc.
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We had the most fantastic time in reaching out to meet the Cultural Authorities to Save the Ducal Palace of Mantova, weakened after the earthquake. Lorenzo Bonoldi was our cultural diplomat.
Lorenzo, you were well prepared, well informed and I knew you were only a phone call away. The meetings were engaging and forward, the hotel warm and welcoming. You are an excellent guide. In addition to the visits to the Ducal Palace, you gave us lively and informative commentaries during our journeys in and around Mantova. We appreciated your great knowledge of Mantova and your command of Italian & English languages. We liked your very interesting, well-timed commentaries on the places we were visiting, your good provision for each stage of our daily trips, your real competence and good manner (and good jokes).
We praise you for all the arrangements and the meticulous detail and communications you provided for arranging a most exceptional tour to the “Arts and Palaces of Mantova”, which helped to make everything go so smoothly and such a success. I choose the word “exceptional” with care since it cannot often happen that you could visit a closed Ducal Palace for a noble cause of saving the frescoes of Andrea Mantegna!
Thank you Lorenzo for fielding the passion to draw the international attention on the cultural devastations of the earthquake in Emilia Romagna! Your programme was just right being a balance of culture, history, leisure and sightseeing completed by our visit to Palazzo Te. What can I say! Just faultless!
∀lessandro Berg∀
Editor - Mode Diplomatique
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A guided tour with Lorenzo Bonoldi is a sublime experience. He is highly knowledgeable about Italian art, architecture, and history, and has great passion for his work. He has guided me around Italy's historic sights and helped immeasurably with my research. He is also charming, engaging, and flexible. Lorenzo is truly a gentleman and a scholar, and he will enhance the Italian experience for both the casual tourist and the serious scholar alike.

Karen Essex
Author of the international bestseller "Leonardo's Swans"