Italy Travel And Hotel Guide

Mantua is an cushy place to eat well and cheaply, with plenty of reasonably priced restaurants throughout its centre, many serving Mantuan specialities like spezzatino di Mantua (normally donkey stew), agnoli in brodo (pasta stuffed with cheese and sausage in broth) or the delicious tortelli di zucca (pasta stuffed with pumpkin). On a budget , there are a couple of decent self-service places - Il Punto , almost opposite the train station on Via Solferino 36 (daily except Sun noon-2.30pm & 7.30-9.15pm), and the Virgiliana , Piazza Virgiliana 57, although this is only open weekday lunchtimes (noon-2pm). If all you want is a pizza, try Piedigrotto , Corso Libertá 15 (closed Wed), and Bella Napoli , Piazza Cavalotti 14 (closed Tues), both decent, standard pizzerias on the edge of the old town. La Masseria , Piazza Broletto 7 (closed Thurs), is a popular, lively place with a wide selection of other dishes as well as good pizzas.

Among restaurants with a more local flavour, the Leoncino Rosso , just through the arch off Piazza Broletto (closed Sun), is friendly and informal - and a good place just to drink - and the Taverna Santa Barbara , Piazza Santa Barbara 19 (closed Mon), inside the Palazzo Ducale complex itself, is an atmospheric setting for local specialities. Try also Ristorante Pavesi (closed Thurs), one of several very pleasant but more expensive options in Piazza Erbe, or Trattoria del Rio at Via Pescheria 23 (closed Fri), right by the fish market, which serves inexpensive traditional Mantovan dishes. For just a drink , either before or after dinner, try Birreria Oblo , Via Arrivabene 50, a pubby place with a great selection of beers, almost matched by a good range of sandwiches.

Tags: budget, cheese, donkey, mantua, pasta, pumpkin, restaurants, sausage, self service, solferino, sun noon, tortelli di zucca, train station