All Places in Mantua

A young Italian couple has been locked in an embrace for over 6,000 years.

A room filled with frescos that make it seem like the walls are crumbling down while giants die in despair.

It took more than 300 years to build this church, which is home to two sacred vessels believed to hold the blood of Christ.

In Lago Superiore, the largest expanse of lotus flowers outside of Asia is hard to miss.

The oldest church in Mantua was buried for centuries under the facades of other structures.

A hidden bas-relief of a hare on a church main portal that brings good luck to the ones who find it.

The remains of the last Gonzaga villa, a luxurious palace built in spite of an economic crisis.

The seat of the Mantua bishop holds many secrets within its walls.

A medieval tower with a suspended iron cage used as an open-air jail for criminals who were exposed as a warning.

This decoration above a door, an unofficial family crest, is said to come alive during the night to try to get free of the stone.

An architectural oddity where the triglyphs of the courtyard of walls create an optical illusion.

Inside the small garden of two mid-century apartment buildings stands a centuries-old bell tower, separated from its original church and hidden from view.

Wander through a maze of empty tombs to find the poles used to hang revolutionary patriots.

An expansive collection of vehicles and other paraphernalia marking the history of firefighting.

The "floating factory" was a highlight in the career of the Italian architect known for his unusual use of reinforced concrete.