Mantua

Mantua is the capital of the province of Mantua. Main attractions of the city are the Romanesque Cathedral, the Renaissance Church of S. Andrea, the Palazzo Ducale and the Palazzo Te. The city, more precisely, the nearby ancient village of Andes, is considered the birthplace of Vergil. In William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet, Mantua is the place where Romeo was banished. Verdi's opera Rigoletto plays in Mantua.

The city is surrounded by four lakes - Lake Superiore, Lake Mezzo, Lake Inferiore and Lake Paiolo - built in the 12th century to defend the city and fed by the Mincio River. This makes the city almost like an island.

Mantua was named "European Capital of Culture 2016" on 27 October 2015.

passing through the center of Mantova after having skirted the lakes is worth it

Mantua is a small jewel that can be visited even in a single weekend to be able to take a walk through the streets of the center or along the banks of the lakes and visit the Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo Te and the numerous historic buildings.
And if you want to stop for a few more days, you can also expand the field of visit to the nearby Sabbioneta or take the cycle path that leads from Mantua to Peschiera, passing through Borghetto for example ... or go and see where the Mincio Lakes of Mantua, enter the river Po, near Governolo, perhaps making a stop at the Ostello dei Concari (ostellodeiconcari.com/)