The ten must see places

A city that blossomed from the banks of the lakes that once surrounded it completely and that still serve as its backdrop today. A city sung of by Virgil, who was born nearby: "I shall raise a temple of marble on that green plain". A city that preserves the oldest of Christian relics: the blood of Christ, that stained the lance of Longinus. A free medieval city that rose up in spite of the dominion of Matilda of Tuscany. A marvel of renaissance Italy with the Ducal Palace of the Gonzaga family and Andrea Mantegna's frescoed bridal chamber at its heart. A 16th and 17th century court that amassed countless works of art, while music and theatre took centre stage for unique moments of spectacle. Finally, a city that is home to treasures brought about by the expertise of different eras and manifold cultures. It is the Theresan Library, the National Archives and ultimately the rooms of the many museums open to the public that, together with the Literature Festival, stand as testament to the decision to designate Mantua as the Italian Capital of Culture 2016.