The city of 100 Towers – Stroll through the medieval heart of Mantua
Before the lakes, before the Gonzagas and their frescoed palaces, Mantua was a forest of towers. Medieval travellers recognised it from afar precisely because of that bristling, proud profile that earned it the reputation of the “city of a hundred towers.” Many have fallen, others have been cut off or incorporated into the palaces, and some are still hidden among the rooftops: on this walk, we will learn to see them again, and with them, the Mantua of the communes, the rival families, and the walls that expanded along with the city will resurface.
Our itinerary starts from Campo Canoa, where the old hamlet of San Giorgio once stood: from here you can enjoy the most beautiful panorama of the city reflected in the lake, with towers and domes lined up as if in a painting. It's the ideal starting point (and a photo is a must!).
After crossing the San Giorgio bridge, we enter the city from Piazza Arche and come across the Sant'Alò tower, an ancient defensive bastion of the first ring of walls: here we will learn what the oldest Mantua looked like and why its defences ran right through there. We then continue towards the tower of the Zuccaro and the mysterious tower of the Gabbia, the highest in the city, whose disturbing name tells a storey that few Mantuans really know.
Finally, the route leads us to the second ring of walls, which today coincides with the historic old town, among squares and arcades that preserve the medieval atmosphere intact. Here we will reveal the secrets of the Clock Tower, with its extraordinary astrological dial that not only marked the hours but also the right days for sowing, travelling, and even cutting one's hair, and of the Salaro Tower, linked to one of the most valuable trades of the past: salt.
Walking between one tower and another, we will talk about families in conflict, symbols of power, walls that grew, and a city that changed its face century after century. It is an unusual Mantua, far from the beaten track, told by a licensed tour guide who has lived in and studied it for twenty years.
Practical information: the walk takes place entirely outdoors, on a flat route suitable for everyone. Comfortable shoes are recommended. The tour operates even in light rain.
At the end of the route, you will look up and Mantua will no longer seem the same to you.
I look forward to seeing you at Campo Canoa!