Mantua: Treasures of the Gonzaga Court
Uncover the Renaissance beauty of Mantua, where isabella d’este shaped art, power and culture
Mantua, a city often overlooked by visitors to Italy, was once one of the great cultural capitals of the Renaissance. Under the patronage of the powerful Gonzaga family, Mantua flourished as a vibrant court, attracting artists, musicians, and intellectuals from across Europe. No figure embodies this spirit more than Isabella d’Este, one of the most influential women of her age, whose refined taste and passion for the arts helped shape Mantua into a center of elegance and creativity. Walking through the city today, visitors can still sense this unique blend of political power and artistic brilliance.
During a two-day tour, the highlights of Mantua bring this world vividly to life. At the grand Palazzo Ducale, you step into the opulent setting where the Gonzaga family reigned, exploring vast frescoed halls and hidden courtyards that once hosted glittering ceremonies and private intrigues. Nearby, the Rotonda di San Lorenzo, Mantua’s oldest church, provides a spiritual counterpoint with its intimate Romanesque design and atmosphere of quiet devotion. The city’s artistic soul shines at the Casa del Mantegna, where the celebrated court painter lived and worked in a home of striking Renaissance harmony. Finally, the journey culminates at the extraordinary Palazzo Te, Giulio Romano’s masterpiece, where playful frescoes and bold Mannerist architecture capture the whimsy and grandeur of the Gonzaga world. Together, these sites reveal a city that, while less traveled, offers treasures as rich and captivating as Italy’s most famous destinations.
You can opt to visit Mantua on its own, or you can begin your experience by following a three week course on the life of Isabella d’Este and her legacy of art collecting. Together, they form a living bridge into a magical period in Italy’s history
Dates
Saturday 2 – Sunday 3 May 2026
Day 1 - 10.00am - 4.00pm
Day 2 - 10.00am - 3.30pm
Fee
€ 1200
Course Details - Renaissance, Power and Patronage: The Legacy of Isabella d’Este
3 week online course (One 1 -hour session per week via Zoom)
Dates
16, 23, 30 April 2026 (online course)
Time
4.00 - 5.00pm (BST)online course
Fee
€1500 course and Mantua tour (purchase here)
3 week course €280 (contact us for payment)
Here’s what to expect on the Mantua tour.
Day 1
AM 09:30
Meet at The Ducale Cafe - Via Pietro Fortunato Calvi, 25
AM 10:00
Palazzo Ducale
Begin your visit to Palazzo Ducale at Piazza Sordello, taking in the grandeur of the sprawling Gonzaga complex before entering the Castello di San Giorgio to see Mantegna’s iconic Camera degli Sposi with its breathtaking illusionistic ceiling. Wander through the residential apartments once shaped by Isabella d’Este, where the elegance of her courtly world is still palpable, then explore the palace’s grand reception rooms such as the Hall of Rivers and the Hall of Tapestries, adorned with frescoes and stuccoes that reflect the Gonzaga family’s wealth and ambition. Conclude with a stroll through the quiet courtyards and gardens, including the Cortile della Cavallerizza, to experience the intimate corners of the palace and enjoy views across the city and its surrounding lakes.
PM 12:30
Group Lunch
PM 14:00
Rotondo di San Lorenzo
Step inside the Rotonda di San Lorenzo, Mantua’s oldest church, and be immediately struck by its intimate circular Romanesque design, one of the few surviving examples of early medieval architecture in the city. Admire the simplicity and harmony of the central plan, with its sturdy columns, arches, and subtle decorative details that convey a serene, contemplative atmosphere. Take a moment to appreciate the historical layers of the building, from its 11th-century origins through later restorations, which reflect Mantua’s long and complex past. Conclude your visit by pausing in the quiet center, feeling the sense of timeless spirituality that contrasts beautifully with the grandeur of nearby palaces.
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Day 2
AM 09:30
Meet at Meet at The Ducale Cafe - Via Pietro Fortunato Calvi, 25
AM 10:00
Casa del Mantegna
We start the second day of the tour at the Casa del Mantegna, the Renaissance home of the celebrated court painter, and explore the central courtyard that reflects the elegant proportions and harmonious design typical of the period. Inside, imagine the daily life of Mantegna as he worked for the Gonzaga court, creating masterpieces that defined Mantua’s artistic prestige. Take time to notice architectural details and the layout, which reveal how art and domestic life intertwined, offering a rare glimpse into the creative world of one of the city’s most influential figures.
PM 12:30
Lunch (participants' own)
PM 14:00
Palazzo Te
Conclude your tour at the extraordinary Palazzo Te, Giulio Romano’s Mannerist masterpiece, where playful frescoes, illusionistic ceilings, and dramatic architecture showcase the inventive spirit of the Gonzaga court. Wander through the lavish rooms, including the famous Sala dei Giganti, where sweeping murals envelop the viewer in myth and grandeur. Stroll the surrounding gardens and loggias to appreciate the seamless integration of art, architecture, and landscape, leaving you with a vivid impression of Mantua as a city of creativity, spectacle, and Renaissance splendor
Tour Closes
Lecturer’s Biography
Aliki Braine
Born in Paris in 1976, Aliki Braine studied at The Ruskin School of Fine Art, Oxford, The Slade School of Fine Art, London, and The Courtauld Institute, where she was awarded a distinction for her master's in 17th-century painting. Aliki has been a regular lecturer at the National Gallery since 2001 and teaches at the Wallace Collection, Courtauld Gallery, and The Arts Society. She is an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Fine Art Photography at the University of the Arts London. Aliki is also a practicing artist who regularly exhibits her photographic work internationally.
Publications & Exhibitions
Books
Art; The Whole Story, Thames and Hudson (2010)
501 Artists, Barons Publishing (2007)
1001 Paintings to See Before You Die, New Burlington Books (2006)
Reviews
Robert Shore, Beg, Steal and Borrow; Artists Against Originality, Elephant Books (2017)
Pauline Martin, L’Évidence, le vide, la vie; La photographie face à ses lacunes, Ithaque Editions (2017)
Brady Wilks, Alternative Photographic Processes: Crafting Handmade Images, Focal Press (2015)
Robert Shore, Post-Photography: The Artist With a Camera, Laurence King Pub (2014)
Exhibitions
‘Veronica Bailey & Aliki Braine: Cross-Reference', dalla Rosa Gallery, London (2018)
‘Wilful Damage’, Galerie Raum Mit Licht, Vienna, Austria (2011)
‘Les Evidences du Réel; La photographie face à ses lacunes’, Musée d'art de Pully, Lausanne, Switzerland (2017)
‘Material Light’, Kulturni Centar, Belgrade, Serbia (2015)
