The Ducal Palace (Palazzo Ducale) in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Mantua, Italy, was the home of the Gonzaga family during their rule over the city. It’s located on Piazza Sordello and contains some impressive frescoes and artwork.
History
Construction on what became the Ducal Palace began in the late 13th century by the Bonacolsi family who ruled Mantua before the Gonzagas. The oldest building that’s part of the complex is the Palazzo del Capitano, which sits on Piazza Sordello.
Over the years, the complex came to include the Castle of Saint George (Castello di San Giorgio) and several courtyards and gardens. The Gonzaga family lived there from 1328 to 1707. There are over 500 rooms included in the entire palace.
Visiting
It’s possible to visit the Ducal Palace and Castle of Saint George on a combo ticket for €15 (as of August 2023). If you have a Mantova Card, you have to pay a supplement of €5.50 to visit both the castle and palace. They’re open daily except Mondays from 8:15am to 7:15pm. You can purchase tickets online or at the entrance to the castle on Piazza Sordello.
The palace is huge and we were only able to get a ticket for the castle and the Old Court (Corte Vecchia), which is the oldest part of the palace. The New Court (Corte Nuova) wasn’t available to visit.