Description
The Sant'Andrea Basilica dome tour in Mantua pairs a guided visit of the church with a climb up inside it. The basilica was begun in 1472 for Marquis Ludovico Gonzaga, after the plans of the humanist Leon Battista Alberti, and it is counted among the great works of Italian Renaissance architecture. As the city's co-cathedral, it also holds the tomb of Andrea Mantegna, painter at the Gonzaga court.
The visit also covers the crypt, where the Sacred Vessels are kept. They hold the relic called the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, which tradition says the Roman soldier Longinus carried to the city.
Then comes the climb. Walkways that visitors have never been able to use before lead up to the huge 18th-century dome that Filippo Juvarra built to complete the structure. It stands 188 steps and 40 metres up, and from it you look out over the building and the city. A safety helmet is provided for the way to the lantern.
- The guided visit is in Italian and is included in the ticket
- The dome climb is for visitors over 12
- No bags or backpacks on the route, with a free coat check
The visit lasts about an hour.