Sabbioneta is an interesting little town with Renaissance architecture. If you are in the area it’s worth the stop, but don’t go out of your way. The piazza ducal is nice and very large lined with shops.

It's harder to track down the entrance than you might expect...once there, you are directed to the Bridal Bedchamber as the first place to visit. It is fabulous and the explanatory illustration to show what the paintings were about (the greatness of the Gonzaga family) was really helpful. But thereafter our visit was disappointing. Staff were very jobs-worth and trying to navigate our way round the other exhibits was unduly complex. One section of the palace was given over to an exhibition on speed, which wasn't quite what we came for. In comparison to other great historic sites in the region, a disappointment.