Overview
Located in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, Mantua (Mantova) is a hidden gem that blends timeless beauty with a rich artistic legacy. Encircled by three man-made lakes dating back to the 12th century, the city offers a serene atmosphere ideal for peaceful walks or cycling along the Mincio River, creating an inspiring backdrop for medical shadowing abroad. Mantua’s Renaissance heritage is on full display in its historic center, especially within the grand Palazzo Ducale—a sprawling complex of rooms, courtyards, and gardens that reflects the city’s former status as a cultural stronghold. Far from the bustle of larger tourist hubs, Mantua invites pre-health students looking to shadow doctors in Italy to step into a world where history and elegance quietly endure.
Destination Information
Local Time Now:
12:41pm
Official Languages:
Italian
Almost all alumni have not spoken the local language.The City
The city owes a lot of its prestige to the wealthy and powerful Gonzaga family (yes, the American University is named after one of them), who ruled the city for nearly four centuries.
Food, art, nature, and a welcoming atmosphere are reasons why the greatest Italian Renaissance poet, Torquato Tasso, wrote that Mantua is “a very beautiful city, and one well worth traveling a thousand miles to see.”
Dates & Availability
- Summer Break 2026
Dates
Price
Availability
May 9, 2026 - May 29, 2026 3 weeks
$6,499
Open
May 30, 2026 - June 19, 2026 3 weeks
$6,499
Open
June 20, 2026 - July 10, 2026 3 weeks
$6,499
Open
July 11, 2026 - July 31, 2026 3 weeks
$6,499
Open
You may pay over time, fundraise, consider scholarships, and more. Learn about our significant partial need-based scholarships here.
Participants may transfer to another program or receive a refund up until a predefined amount of time before the start date.
What’s Included
Atlantis programs include ~20h/week of shadowing, housing, some meals, transportation, travel health insurance, and more. Airfare is not included but can be very affordable.
What’s Included
On Program Components
Pre/Post Program Components
Hospital Overview
The ASST di Mantova (‘ASST’ stands for ‘Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale’) sits just north of Mantua’s city center, not far from the train station. The hospital serves a rural province of about 415,000 inhabitants. ASST di Mantova is a public, non-university hospital with high-level specialties, offering both inpatient and outpatient services.
Specialty Dishes
The culinary scene in this city is nothing short of poetic. On Via Pescheria, beside the quiet flow of the Rio Canal, a humble kiosk serves up the beloved “cannoncino”—a crisp pastry filled with silky whipped cream and custard. Local eateries offer hearty regional dishes like “stracotto,” a rich donkey stew slow-cooked to perfection, and “bevrinvin,” a comforting soup of agnolini pasta steeped in red wine. Every bite tells a story of tradition and flavor unique to this corner of Italy.


Excursions
Our excursions are designed to offer a deeper look into your host culture, for both the educational benefit and the enjoyment of exploring a new place with others who share your interests in travel and medicine. Excursions range from historical tours to culinary and cultural explorations.
Your Site Manager will inform you of the excursions they have planned during your program orientation. If you make travel plans outside of your city for a weekend and it conflicts with the events your Site Manager has planned, notify your Site Manager several days in advance so that they can plan accordingly.

Clinical Experience that Stands Out to Schools
Medical schools want 3 things: healthcare exposure, GPA/MCAT, and certain competencies. Uniquely, “360 Shadowing” gives you the best version of the 1st, frees you to focus on the 2nd, and cultivates/shows the 3rd to medical school admissions.

Funding Your Future
The cost of Atlantis isn’t too dissimilar from the cost of many study abroad programs that you may find. And we’re here to help: from our extensive fundraising guide to flexible payment plans and financing options, we make the process simple and easy, allowing you to focus on what really matters.

Bring a Friend
Consider bringing a friend to the same program you’re applying to. Although the vast majority of Atlantis alumni have gone on programs without knowing someone in their cohort, bringing a friend allows your experience to be shared in a unique way, while still allowing you one of the benefits of Atlantis: meeting new pre-health friends from across the country. Consider sharing this idea with your friends.
