Mantua is home to some of the greatest art treasures of the Renaissance. The ruling family of Mantua, the Gonzaga, employed artists such as Andrea Mantegna, Leon Battista Alberti, and Giulio Romano to transform their remote Lombard city into a thriving center for the arts. Whether it’s the “Camera degli Sposi,” with its vivid depiction of the Gonazaga family at court – including the Marquis’ favorite dog “Rubino” who sits under his throne, or the revolutionary Basilica of Sant’ Andrea, or the sumptuous pleasure palace known as the Palazzo Te, Mantua is a true Renaissance treasure – and you must try the pumpkin-filled tortelli while you are there! Buona visita!