MUSEUMS IN MANTUA
Museums in Mantua. You can’t visit Mantua without entering the museums containing the remnants of its long history made up of interesting events.
I wrote a post with all the useful information to visit Mantua where I suggest that you should buy the MantovaCard, which represents the pass key to the city.
Here are the main monuments you can visit and which describe themselves the history of Mantua.
The Ducal Palace
The complex is made up of three cores: the Museo di Corte Vecchia (the Museum of Old Court), the Castello di San Giorgio (the Castle of Saint George), and the Museo di Corte Nuova (the Museum of New Court).
In the 14th century the Palace was the official residence of the Gonzaga family, and inside you can admire some 14th –century and 15th –century masterpieces: the Sala di Pisanello (the Room of Pisanello), the studiolo di Isabella d’Este (the Studio of Isabella d’Este) the Camera degli Sposi (the Bridal Chamber) by Andrea Mantegna.
The Museo Archeologico Nazionale (The Archaeological Museum)
The Museum is located in piazza Castello (Castello square), inside the complex of the Ducal Palace.
The museum collections display remnants from the Neolithic period to Renaissance. In addition you can admire “the Lovers of Valdaro”, two embracing Neolithic skeletons found near Mantua.
The Bibiena Theatre and the Accademia Nazionale Virgiliana (the National Academy of Virgil)
The Theatre was planned by Antonio Galli Bibiena, and is a Baroque masterwork. It was inaugurated on December 3rd 1769, and hosted a concert by 14-years-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1770, who arrived in Mantua together with his father Leopold.
The Theatre is located in the huge complex of the Palazzo Accademico which houses the Accademia Nazionale Virgiliana (the National Academy of Virgil), the most ancient cultural institution of Mantua.
The Palazzo della Ragione (the Palatium Novum of the Municipality) and the Torre dell’orologio (the Clock tower)
The Palazzo della Ragione was built in 1250, and was the place where justice was administered.
Instead, the near Tower was built in 1472, and in 1473 an astronomical clock was added to the tower.
The clock is still working, and communicates the time to the people, the signs of the zodiac and phases of the moon.
READ ALSO: Things to see in Mantua.
The Palazzo d’Arco (The d’Arco Palace)
The Palace was built in 1782 and dominates piazza d’Arco (d’Arco square).
It was the residence of the Conti d’Arco, and is the most complete remnant of a Mantuan 18th– century villa.
The Tazio Nuvolari Museum
The museum is dedicated to Tazio Nuvolari, the racing driver and champion who lived in Mantua.
On display his medals and his story.
The Te Palace
It was built between 1523 and 1525 by Giulio Romano on commission from Frederick II of Gonzaga, as a pleasure palace. The rooms are rich in decorations and frescoes, including the well-known Giants’ Room.
READ ALSO: Giulio Romano, life and works.
INFO
MANTOVACARD allows you to visit museums in Mantua with a unique combination ticket
Can you see and photograph the lovers of Valdaro? I am planning a trip here, and I am a photographer very much wanting to respectfully photograph them.
The Valdaro lovers are preserved and exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Mantua.
You can see them and photograph them also believe. When I went there I though I did not make pictures though.
But I know who can help you to organize your visit without any problems.
it is the guide who accompanied me in Mantua. A good historian and knows very well the city and its museums.
His email are on his website: http://www.visitmantua.it