Mantua, Sabbioneta and Cremona: Renaissance towns of the Po plain
From Verona to the mills of Borghetto, the Gonzaga palaces of Mantua and the ideal town of Sabbioneta, then Cremona and the Certosa di Pavia.
- Distance
- 241 km (150 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 20 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- Countries
- Italy
- Updated
- July 9, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 241 km (150 mi) with 8 stops, from Verona to Pavia. About 3 h 20 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Italy
Route description
Drive south-west from Verona for about 25 km to Valeggio sul Mincio. Below the town, Borghetto is a hamlet of watermills on the fast, clear Mincio river, crossed by the long fortified Visconti bridge of 1393. Park above the village and walk down. Then follow the river south through flat farmland to Mantua, surrounded on three sides by lakes.
Mantua was ruled for almost four centuries by the Gonzaga family. Their Ducal Palace is a town within the town, with the Camera degli Sposi painted by Mantegna; book a time slot. At the other end of the centre, Palazzo Te, by Giulio Romano, has the startling Room of the Giants. The old town is a restricted traffic zone; the car parks by the lakes are easy for motorhomes.
Head west for 35 km to Sabbioneta, a small town built in the 16th century by Vespasiano Gonzaga as an ideal city, with star-shaped walls, a gallery and one of the oldest purpose-built theatres in Europe; with Mantua it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue across the Po plain to Cremona, the town of Stradivari, whose cathedral bell tower, the Torrazzo, stands over 110 metres high.
From Cremona, roads through Pizzighettone and the Lodi plain lead west to the Certosa di Pavia, a monastery with a richly carved marble façade and cloisters. It is closed on Mondays and at lunchtime. End in Pavia, an old university town with a covered bridge over the Ticino. This route is flat and easy to drive; summers are hot and humid, and autumn can bring fog.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Verona
Italy - 229 km
Borghetto sul Mincio
ViewsValeggio sul Mincio, ItalyA cluster of old watermills on the clear Mincio river, overlooked by the long fortified Visconti bridge-dam of 1393. Park in the pay car parks above the village and walk down; weekends are busy.
- 328 km
Ducal Palace of Mantua
HistoryMantua, ItalyThe vast palace of the Gonzaga family, whose Camera degli Sposi painted by Andrea Mantegna is one of the treasures of the Renaissance. Time slots for that room are limited, so book ahead.
- 42 km
Palazzo Te
HistoryMantua, ItalyA pleasure palace built by Giulio Romano for Federico Gonzaga, whose Room of the Giants is painted floor to ceiling with collapsing walls and falling titans. It stands at the edge of the old town, with parking nearby.
- 536 km
Sabbioneta
Italy - 649 km
Torrazzo of Cremona
HistoryCremona, ItalyThe brick bell tower of Cremona Cathedral, over 110 metres high with a large astronomical clock. About 500 steps lead to the top; the violin museum a short walk away tells the story of Stradivari.
- 788 km
Certosa di Pavia
HistoryCertosa di Pavia, ItalyA great Carthusian monastery of the 14th and 15th centuries with a carved marble façade and cloisters lined with monks’ cells. Entry is free; it closes on Mondays and at midday, so check times.
- 810 km
Pavia
Italy
FAQs
How long is Mantua, Sabbioneta and Cremona: Renaissance towns of the Po plain?
3-day road trip of about 241 km (150 mi) with 8 stops, from Verona to Pavia. About 3 h 20 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Mantua, Sabbioneta and Cremona: Renaissance towns of the Po plain?
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 20 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Mantua, Sabbioneta and Cremona: Renaissance towns of the Po plain start and end?
It starts in Verona and ends in Pavia.
Which countries does Mantua, Sabbioneta and Cremona: Renaissance towns of the Po plain pass through?
Italy.
