Mantua Free Tour: Land of Towers and Legends

Before the lakes, before the Gonzagas, Mantua was a forest of towers. Medieval travelers recognized it from afar precisely because of that rugged and majestic skyline that earned it the reputation as the “city of a hundred towers.” Many have fallen, others are hidden among the rooftops: on this walk, we’ll learn to see them again. We’ll start at Campo Canoa, where the ancient village of San Giorgio once stood: from here, the view of the city reflected in the lake is the most beautiful of all (and a photo is a must!). After crossing the San Giorgio Bridge, we enter the city via Piazza Arche and come upon the Sant’Alò Tower, an ancient bastion of the first ring of walls. We continue toward the Zuccaro Tower and the mysterious Gabbia Tower, whose name tells a story that few Mantua residents truly know. The tour then takes us to the second ring of walls—the current historic center—to uncover the secrets of the Torre dell’Orologio—with its extraordinary astrological dial—and the Torre del Salaro. An unusual side of Mantua, narrated by a certified tour guide who has lived in and studied the city for twenty years: look up, and the city will never seem the same to you again. I’ll be waiting for you at Campo Canoa!