Things to do in  Mantua

Mantua’s glory hasn’t faded since the Gonzaga dynasty made this city the seat of its power during the Renaissance. Known as “La Bella Addormentata” (Sleeping Beauty), its intact old town has been protected by a ring of artificial lakes for almost 1,000 years. Today, the centro storico is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and tours of architectural treasures like the Ducal Palace, Palazzo Te, and Teatro Bibiena top the list of things to do, along with cooking classes to make tortelli di zucca (pumpkin ravioli) and other local specialties.