Date: September 20, 2015
「Google Timelineによる軌跡」
Sabbioneta”, a World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
イタリア版富岡製糸場「クレスピ・ダッダ」を出発、続いて向かったのは、「サッビオネータ」という小さな古い街。街を取り囲む六角形の城郭が印象的な街。
この街は、ルネサンス時代の優れた計画都市、特に後期ルネッサンス期の理想的な街として名高かったそうです。街の中にある古代劇場などは、ギリシャ時代の劇場をイメージして作られており、こうしたことから小さなアテネとも呼ばれていたそうです。ちなみにサッビオネータは、ここからクルマで30分ほどにある「マントヴァ」と共に2008年に世界遺産に選ばれています。
また、サッビオネータについては、[highlight]「イタリアの最も美しい村」[/highlight]のひとつにも選ばれています。これについては現地についた時、美しい村協会のロゴを見て気がつきました。世界遺産かつ美しい村といえばフランスの「ヴェズレー」を思い浮かべますね。
Cars are not allowed to enter the city, but I parked my car there because I seemed to be able to park my car in the space at the entrance of the city wall. It seems that the charge is not taken especially. I think that most people have arrived by car or motorcycle because there is not much public transportation. Was there also a person of the bicycle? It might have been a little lonely compared to Vesely.
Most of the existing historical buildings were built under the direction of a man named Prince Vespasiano of the Gonzaga family, who ruled the area between 1556 and 1591. The main sightseeing is to walk around the city and see the buildings that he built.
First of all, if you go to the tourist information center near the entrance of the town, they will give you a pamphlet and a ticket like this. This was free of charge, and if you show this ticket at each monument, you can visit all of them for free. If you look carefully, you can see the logo of “The most beautiful village in Italy” printed on the ticket. So, we started to walk around based on the map we were given.
まず最大の見所ともいえる「古代劇場」を目指しました。ここは見応え充分、素晴らしい施設。比較的小さい劇場ですが、現在も小規模のコンサートや演劇が催されているとのことです。
As you can see, there is a small stage in front, and around the seats, there are columns and carvings like an Athenian temple, and if you look closely, you can see frescoes on the walls.
In addition, it seemed that there was a woodwind concert that night. I was a little disappointed because I had already decided to stay in Mantova at this point.
続いて向かったのは街の中心「ドゥカーレ広場」。
そして、この広場に面しているのが「ドゥカーレ宮殿」でここにヴェスパシアーノ王子が住んでいたようです。でも見応えはイマイチでした。
それ以外の見どころは、同じくドゥカーレ広場に面している「サンタ・マリア・アサンタ教会」。これは普通でした。
Afterwards, we took a light walk around the city while enjoying gelato.
Overall, the town was very neat, clean and very well managed. However, if I were to make a complaint, I would say that the width of the roads in the city was a little too wide.
It was wide enough for a car to pass through, and the density of buildings in the city seemed thin. Personally, I preferred the narrower and more intricate old town. Nevertheless, it was enough to make me feel again that the best part of the trip to Europe is to stroll around the historic country towns. But the beautiful villages in France are by far the best.
To “Mantova” where you will stay
After walking around Sabbioneta, the next stop was Mantova.
Mantova is also a city that developed under the rule of the Gonzaga family. The city is just south of Verona, a popular city famous as a world heritage site. It takes about 40 minutes by train from Verona, so it is possible to visit Mantova as a day trip from Verona. Moreover, it is good that the distance from the station of Mantova to the old town is only 10 minutes or less on foot.
The hotel is a not so expensive 3 star hotel facing Piazza Soltero. I didn’t book it before my trip, but just before I left Crespi d’Adda, I booked it on the spot on Booking.com. The hotel is located in the center of the old town and is not only convenient, but the price is also quite reasonable, about 8,400 yen since it is 62 euros.
I think it took less than 40 minutes to get there from Sabbioneta by public road. We had some trouble finding a parking space in the old town, but there was a large parking lot on the north side of the old town, and fortunately there were several openings, so we were able to park easily. It was a Sunday, so I didn’t need a parking meter, but I was still worried, so I parked here thinking that I would go check my car after 8 o’clock the next morning, and I walked for about 5 minutes to Piazza Soltello, the center of the city. Let’s find a hotel first.
In the Piazza Soltero, there was an exhibition of classic cars of the past, and it was crowded with many people. However, it was past 5 o’clock in the evening when we arrived there, so they were already cleaning up. I wanted to take a picture, but I hurried to the hotel. Fortunately, I could find the hotel easily because it was facing the square. It was a good hotel where I could communicate in English without any problem. We headed for sightseeing.
First of all, you can see classic cars in the square in front of you.
Is it sponsored by AUDI?
And then we headed to the next. But it was already past 6 o’clock in the evening, and most of the sightseeing spots were already closed. So the next day? Unfortunately, the next day was Monday and many museums and buildings were closed. It seems that most of the local cities in Italy are closed on Mondays. I should have done a little more research, even though it’s the same every time.
結局ゆっくりと内部が見学できたのは、街の中心にある「サンタンドレア教会」くらい。この教会はとても見応えありました。
I really wanted to see the Palazzo Ducale and the Academic Theater, but they were already closed and both closed on Monday. I’ll have to come back to Mantova for revenge….
Still, it was a nice walk through a lovely city. I’m happy with that.
Buy Prepaid SIM
Now, while Mantova was a bit of a disappointment in terms of sightseeing timing, there were a few good things about visiting the city.
The first thing that happened the following Monday was that I was able to buy a prepaid SIM. I bought it at TIM which is familiar in Italy. It may be possible to buy it outside this city, but I went to buy it first thing in the morning on Monday. The opening time of the mobile phone shop was 9:00, which was relatively earlier than other shops, so it was very helpful. In addition, I checked the location the day before. I just found it by chance, though.
朝一番で行ったこともあり、客としては第一号。SIMフリーiPhoneを提示し、これが使えるプリペイドSIMが欲しいと英語で伝えるだけで基本OK、通話つきプランかデータのみのプランかと聞かれますが、通話は必要ないのでデータのみでよいよと伝えると、[highlight]「1ヶ月間有効で5GB」[/highlight]まで使えるよとのこと、値段はもろもろ込みで[highlight]「30ユーロ」[/highlight]。完璧、これでお願いしますといい、待つことおよそ10分、あっさりと開通成功です。素晴らしい。
なお、よりSIMの開通手続きをスムーズにするため、言語表示は現地語（ここではイタリア語）にしておいたほうがいいです。僕はすっかり設定を帰るのを忘れていましたが、このようなSIM購入時の言語設定変更は、何度か経験しているので、その場ですぐ設定変更し、対応してもらいました。
Restaurants in Mantova
もう一つのマントヴァ訪問の成果は、この旅で最も素敵なレストランに巡り会えたことでしょう。
Since I was getting over jet lag and I hadn’t had a good lunch, I wanted to splurge in the evening. But I did so yesterday…. We searched for a good restaurant near the hotel based on TripAdvisor. Out of the few restaurants we found, we chose this one that looked good before it actually opened. This was a great answer. It was the number one restaurant on this trip.
All the dishes were delicious, but especially the homemade macaroni pasta.
And the wine was good. We ordered a half bottle, but it was so good that we ended up ordering two bottles, or one full bottle. But I got carried away and drank too much, so I had a hangover the next day…
By the way, I heard that there is a restaurant in Mantova that has been awarded one Michelin star. I’d like to go there, too, so I have to visit Mantova again. Of course with accommodation.
So, it was a very fulfilling day for us to enjoy Crespi d’Adda, Mantova and Sabbioneta, two rather minor World Heritage Sites in Lombardy.
さて、この翌日以降ですが、当初の予定を前倒しし、ヴェローナを飛ばし一気にドロミテを目指すこととなります。（続く）
