Visit Mantua

Mantua: one of the 100 Places In Italy Every Woman Should Go!

In the beginning was Goethe, and Goethe was travelling, and Goethe was travelling in Italy... then Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda arrived. The girls are now around, travelling all around the world, and - sure - they are using this guidebook: "100 Places In Italy Every Woman Should Go" by Susan Van Allen. Hundreds of tips for women (and, why not, for men too, because Mr Big could be with them). Among this 100 must-to-see, Susan Van Allen suggests also the Ducal Palace of Mantua, and mostly the Isabella d'Este's private rooms:

"Of all the 500 rooms in the humongous Palazzo Ducale, the two teeniest, hidden away on the ground floor, are the most enchanting. They are the grotta and the studiolo of Isabella d’Este, aka First Lady of the Renaissance. Here’s where she’d come to leave the world behind and read the classics, play her lute, or have her friends over to marvel over the paintings, antiques, and gems she’d collected..."

When planning to pay a visit to Isabella's rooms, please be aware that they are not included in the usual visitor's route within the Ducal Palace of Mantua. Visitors wishing to see them may have to ask for special permission to see them. We will be happy to help you in getting this permission.

Visita Notturna al Palazzo Ducale di Mantova

Mantova, Palazzo Ducale: al calare della notte si accendono le luci sull'arte! In occasione dei "Martedì in Arte" il giorno 30 agosto sarà possibile visitare il Palazzo Ducale di Mantova di sera. Il Museo sarà aperto gratuitamente. VisitMantua vi offre l'opportunità di scoprire la reggia dei Gonzaga con una visita guidata a prezzo speciale: soli 5 euro a persona! Non perderte questa occasione: vedrete gli splendori dei Gonzaga rifulgere nelle tenebre della notte.

IL NUMERO DEI PARTECIPANTI è LIMITATO! Prenotatevi per assicurarvi la possibilità di partecipare alla visita guidata.

Per informazioni e prenotazioni contattate: visit.mantua@gmail.com

biblioteca@comune.cavriana.mn.it | tel 0376804053

Verdi's Rigoletto and Mantua... the true story

The name of Mantua is notorious in the world for having been chosen by Verdi as the set for his Opera “Rigoletto”. Actually the plot of the opera is fictional. At very first the beginning Verdi wanted to set the musical drama in Paris, at the court Francois I, depicting the king as an immoral and cynical womanizer. The Board of Censors would never have accepted this, because it would have seen as an offense against the dignity of the European kings reigning in that period.

So Verdi decided to move the action of the Opera from the royal court of France to the duchy of Mantua: the Gonzaga Family had long been extinct by the beginning of 18th Century, and their Dukedom did not exist anymore. So nobody could be offended.

As soon as the Opera “Rigoletto” became a theatrical triumph, the people in Mantua started to look for real places for its fictional story. So the rectory (parsonage) of the Cathedral, located in front of the Ducal Palace, began to be named “Rigoletto's house”.

A statue of Rigoletto, the fictitious inhabitant of the house, was made by Aldo Falchi in 1978, to be set in the garden.

The “Rigoletto” was first performed at La Fenice theatre in Venice, on March 11th 1851.

In 2010 a great live performance of “Rigoletto” has been broadcasted from Mantua. The cast included Placido Domingo (as Rigoletto), Vittorio Grigolo (as the Duke of Mantua) and Julia Novikova (as Gilda). The Music has been conducted by Zubin Mehta.

Breaking news! Rigoletto on PBS on July 15th 2011

The Worldwide Broadcast, recorded Live in High Def at the actual locations of the Opera comes to “Great Performances” on Friday, July 15th at 9:30 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings).

“Great Performances” is a production of THIRTEEN for WNET, one of America's most prolific and respected public media partners.

Breaking News - Karen Essex in Mantua!

Breaking News - Karen Essex, award-winning and international renown novelist, author of the novel Leonardo's Swans is going to visit Mantua.

After telling us about the rivalries among the powerful sisters Isabella and Beatrice d'Este, is she here to research another book about Isabella?
We do hope so: we love Isabella, we love Karen's gifted pen. And - last but not least - many tourists decide to pay a visit to Mantua after reading Leonardo's Swans. A new novel by Karen Essex would make even more illustrious the name of Mantua in the world.

Ultimissime - Karen Essex, scrittrice di fama internazionale e autrice del romanzo I Cigni di Leonardo sta per recarsi in visita a Mantova.

Dopo aver raccontato il complicato rapporto fra Isabella e Beatrice d’Este, che stia ora per scrivere un nuovo romanzo su Isabella?

Ce lo auguriamo: amiamo tanto Isabella quanto la brillante scrittura di Karen Essex. E, inoltre, non pochi turisti decidono di visitare Mantova dopo aver letto I Cigni di Leonardo. Un nuovo romanzo di Karen potrebbe contribuire a rendere ancora più illustre il nome di Mantova nel mondo.

Palazzo Ducale: al calare della notte si accendono le luci sull'arte!

Mantova, Palazzo Ducale: al calare della notte si accendono le luci sull'arte! In occasione dei "Martedì in Arte" il giorno 28 giugno sarà possibile visitare il Palazzo Ducale di Mantova di sera. Il Museo sarà aperto gratuitamente. VisitMantua vi offre l'opportunità di scoprire la reggia dei Gonzaga con una visita guidata a prezzo speciale: soli 5 euro a persona! Non perderte questa occasione: vedrete gli splendori dei Gonzaga rifulgere nelle tenebre della notte.
Per informazioni e prenotazioni scrivete a visit.mantua@gmail.com

Mantova Creativa: New Creative Renaissance

During the past, some of the most important names in the history of art have worked in Mantua: Pisanello, Leon Battista Alberti, Andrea Mantegna, Leonardo da Vinci, Giulio Romano and Rubens.
In the next weekend (10-12 June) a New Creative Renaissance will inhabit the old town. MantovaCreativa is going to offer 60 events, involving 100 creative studios, for 72 hours and in 40 different locations. A great chance for the encounter between art, culture and business.
Among the firms involved in the event: Abici, Agape, Apam, Berman, Bernardelli, Bertolini Arredamenti, Bottega Scuola dell'Upa di Mantova, Bottoli Costruzioni, Bustaffa Giovanni florist, Brunoni Edili, Lubiam, Manerba Evolving Office, Medianet, Radio Bruno, San Martino, Seletti, Sigla, Tosoni, Virgili Wines, Diesis Group.

Nei secoli passati, alcuni dei nomi più illustri nella storia di arte hanno lavorato a Mantova: Pisanello, Leon Battista Alberti, Andrea Mantegna, Leonardo da Vinci, Giulio Romano e Rubens.
Nel prossimo weekend (10-12 giugno) un Nuovo Rinascimento Creativo animerà il centro storico. La rassegna MantovaCreativa offrirà 60 eventi, coinvolgemdo 100 studi creativi per 72 ore ed in 40 location diverse. Una grande opportunità per l'incontro tra arte, cultura e business.

Fran i marchi coinvolti nella manifestazione: Abici, Agape, Apam, Berman, Bernardelli, Bertolini Arredamenti, Bottega Scuola dell'Upa di Mantova, Bottoli Costruzioni, Bustaffa Giovanni florist, Brunoni Edili, Lubiam, Manerba Evolving Office, Medianet, Radio Bruno, San Martino, Seletti, Sigla, Tosoni, Virgili Wines, Diesis Group.

Palazzo Te: Maria Callas exhibition extended for one week!

The exhibition on Maria Callas has been extended for one week. People wishing to pay a visit to the exhibition set in Palazzo Te, can do it until Sunday, June 12th. The exhibition will then move to Florence.
We'd love to point out at your attention another exhibition about the Divina: ‘Maria Callas and Swarovski – Jewels on Stage’, created in 2003 by Rinaldo Albanesi, Vice-President of Swarovski International at the time. It would have been wonderful, if they had come to Mantua too.

La mostra su Maria Callas è stata prorogata di una settimana. Le persone che desiderano visitare l'esposizione allestita a Palazzo Te, potranno farlo fino a Domenica, 12 giugno. La mostra si sposterà poi a Firenze.
Ci piacerebbe sottoporre alla vostra attenzione anche un'altra mostra dedicata alla Divina: 'Maria Callas e Swarovski - Gioielli on Stage', creata nel 2003 da Rinaldo Albanesi, al tempo Vice-Presidente della Swarovski International. Sarebbe stato bello se anche questi gioielli avessero potuto venire a Mantova.