MANTUA CELEBRATES GIULIO ROMANO “CON NUOVA E STRAVAGANTE MANIERA” Palazzo Ducale: 6 October 2019 – 6th January 2020

“GIULIO ROMANO: ARTE E DESIDERIO” Palazzo Te: 6 October 2019 – 6 January 2020

“IL A POLIRONE. DA CORREGGIO A GIULIO ROMANO” San Benedetto Po: 14 September 2019 – 6 January 2020

MANTOVA, SAN BENEDETTO PO AND SABBIONETA: ART AND GOOD WINE 3 days

During the exhibitions dedicated to Giulio Romano hosted at Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Te, tourists will have the chance to visit ’s beautiful historic center. Walking surrounded by the Medieval and monuments, start your tour from Piazza Sordello, where Mantua’s Cathedral is located, and continue through Piazza Broletto, Piazza delle Erbe, where both Palazzo Podestà and della Ragione are located. Alongside Palazzo della Ragione there is the clock tower and the Romanesque Rotonda of San Lorenzo, commissioned by Matilda of Canossa, also called the “Grancontessa”. Continuing the itinerary, you will find Piazza Mantegna, where the breathtaking Basilica of S. Andrea, masterpiece of Leon Battista Alberti, is located. Following the Prince’s path, you will be able to reach Palazzo Te, the stunning residence commissioned by Federico II Gonzaga, Isabella d’Este’s son, and built by Giulio Romano and his students.The residence, which was built between 1524 and 1535, is a real masterpiece. Inside, you can admire the renowned Camera dei Giganti (Chamber of the Giants), the Sala di Amore e Psiche (Chamber of ), the Chamber of the horses, and, lastly, the stunning garden which surrounds the residence, bordered by the exedra. The stunning Monastery of San Benedetto Po is another landmark not to be missed. The monastery hosts the exhibition “Il Cinquecento a Polirone. Da Correggio a Giulio Romano”. The complex consists of the Benedictine Monastery, founded in 1007 by Tedaldo of Canossa and of the Basilica commissioned by his son Bonifacio, which encloses the Romanesque church of Santa Maria. The church was built by important artists such as Giulio Romano, Correggio and Veronese. The first floor currently hosts the ethnographic museum, an extraordinary collection of ten thousand agricultural tools. San Benedetto Po is also famous as the land that produces the finest Lambrusco, therefore it will be possible to visit a cellar to taste the typical local products. When climatic conditions permit, it is possible to return to the city by sailing the River Mincio, passing through the locks of Governolo.

Sabbioneta, a UNESCO heritage site, is another important landmark. The city was designed according to the Renaissance principles of the Ideal City and its construction was ordered by Vespasiano Gonzaga. In Sabbioneta, tourists can visit the Palazzo Ducale, which will host the exhibitions “Il future della storia” (“The future of History), and “Un ponte di ponti” (“A bridge of bridges”), the Palazzo Giardino connected to the Antichi Gallery and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, with a chapel designed by Bibiena. Next to the church, the Museum of Sacred Art collects liturgical objects, textiles, sculptures, ancient documents and musical instruments. The Teatro all’Antica (or Olimpico, 1588 - 1590), which means “theatre in the style of the Ancients”, was designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi, pupil of Palladio and is one of the most famous landmarks of Sabbioneta. Before returning to Mantua, we recommend you to visit the Santuario Gonzaghesco of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where the tomb of , made by Giulio Romani, resides.

We also recommend an excursion to Volta Mantovana to visit Palazzo Guerrieri Gonzaga, which was commissioned in the mid ‘400 by the Marquises of Mantua, Ludovico Gonzaga and Barbara of Brandeburgo, as their countryside villa. The frescoes above the apse vault of the ancient oratory dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, attributed to Teodoro Ghisi, one of the painters of the circle of Giulio Romano, are particularly important. The area is famous for the wines produced in the Morainic Hills, for this reason, we strongly recommend you to visit a wine tasting cellar.

4* 4* Appetizers Appetizers OVERNIGHT* 3* BB MEALS H.S. L.S. First First and Per person per courses Seconds night 45 58 43 50 Desserts courses in double room Desserts with breakfast Mantua 28 34 Single supplement 23 45 34 28 San 23 25 *City tax not included Benedetto Cellars 14

GUIDED Exibition Exibition San Sabbioneta

TOURS + Palazzo Ducale + Palazzo Te Benedetto + historical centre Po Up to 6 125 85 85 95 persons

Entrances not included

SAILING 16

Medical insurance mandatory € 5.00

Prices are IVA not included

QUOTATIONS ON REQUEST - For groups - For means of transport - Other

Info and booking:

[email protected]; www.ontheroadtravel.it tel.+39 0376 337149 - cell. +39 342 832 8292

THIS TRAVEL PACKAGE IS GOVERNED BY THE TERMS AND

CONDITIONS OF SALE OF TOURIST PACKAGES

Technical organization On The Road Travel Mantova - Rea (4) 250648- prot. 2013/40251