The name of Volta Mantovana is believed to originate from either a bend in the river Mincio, or a turn in the road running alongside between Mantua and Goito to the south and Monzambano and Peschiera to the north.

The castle existed in 1053 when Countess Beatrice of Lorraine, wife of Boniface III of Tuscany and holder of comital rights over the Imperial county of Mantua (and the greater part of the Po valley) donated her seigneurial estate, castle, and chapel at Volta (Curtis cum Castro et cappella) to the bishop of Mantua, a donation seemingly confirmed by another edict in 1073.

According to the Chronicon of Bernold of Constance (who mentions the battle as taking place "apud Vultam propre Mantuam") and in the Liber ad Amicum of Bonizo of Sutri, an army of Lombard forces loyal to Emperor Henry IV defeated the troops of Matilda of Tuscany near the castle.

Following the Sardinian defeat in the 1848 battle of Custoza, the retreating Piedmontese crossed the Mincio to reconnect with their forces then besieging Mantua and to concentrate at Goito.

On the morning of 26 July, the third division of General Ettore De Sonnaz was ordered to occupy Volta Mantovana and to either cover a retreat or frustrate the Austrian advance.

Volta Mantovana was the home of the radical Italian politician Ivanoe Bonomi, who was born into one of the town's affluent landholding families and became the most prominent political figure in early 20th century Mantua.

After five days of violence and intimidation, the local municipal government of the Italian People's Party resigned to be replaced by a commissar, while Don Cesare Ferarri was withdrawn from the parish.