Mantua and Ferrari City Day Trip from Verona

Not on the most popular tourist itineraries of Italy, Mantua is a bit of a secret to many visitors, known by Italians as La Bella Addormentata (The Sleeping Beauty) because it hasn't changed since the Middle Ages.

Your independent day trip from Verona starts with hotel pickup by your driver for the ride to this northern Italian city, home to palaces, villas, and parks built in accordance with the Renaissance architectural style. Mantua and Sabbioneta compose a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was long dominated by the Gonzaga dynasty, which transformed it into a court of great splendor, still reflected today in its historic center.

Spend the morning exploring main attractions like the Palazzo Ducale, home of the Gonzaga family. It is a huge complex of buildings, courtyards, and gardens with more than 500 rooms, including one with frescoes painted by Mantegna (reservations recommended). Perhaps see St. Andrew’s Basilica or the Rotonda of St.Lawrence, an 11th-century landmark believed to be on the site of a Roman temple to Venus. Check out the beautiful Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza Sordello, lined with cafes, shops, and restaurants where you can enjoy an Italian meal, if you wish.

In the afternoon, you'll be driven to Maranello, near Modena, home of Ferrari. At the Ferrari museum, dedicated to the history of the 'Prancing Horse,' see the exhibition dedicated to Formula 1 and international races, complete with cars and a 'pit-stop wall,' where you can gain an understanding of telemetry and pilots’ racing behavior. Other features include a cinema with looped showings of themed films, semi-professional Formula 1 simulators, and the opportunity to try your hand at a tire change. It's also possible to visit the MEF (Enzo Ferrari Museum), which focuses on the life and work of Ferrari’s patron through black-and-white films projected onto white panels. Plus see the magnificent Ferrari F40: the last car he worked on.

Your day trip ends with drop-off at your preferred location in Verona in the mid-evening.

Please note: A tour guide is not included, so it is recommended that you bring a guidebook and/or prepare your sightseeing in advance. Remember to check websites for opening times of attractions and admission prices.