A very beautiful palace...

Palazzo Te was commissioned to Giulio Romano (architect and a pupil of Raphael) by Federico II Gonzaga; marquis and later duke.

It was used as a country villa for leisure and entertainment.

Federico II Gonzaga was the ruler of Mantua from 1519 until 1540.

His family ruled the city of Mantua from 1328 to 1708.

This large palace was built between 1525 and 1535.

In 1630 it was looted by the troops of Ferdinand II, during the War of Mantuan Succession.

At the end of the 16th century and in the first half of the 17th it was renovated.

The name "Te" could derive from the Lombard "tejee" or "tejè" that refers to a linden grove that once grew in the area.

It could also come from the Latin "attegia"; than means "hut".

There is not any ancient furniture into the palace, but wonderful frescoes and stuccoes.

There are some fireplaces inside the palace as well.

I think there are eleven rooms to visit inside the palace.

One of these is the Sala dei Cavalli. It was used as ballroom.

Here you can see six portraits of life - sizes horses. These were the Duke' s favourite ones.

Another room to visit is the Camera di Amore e Psiche (Cupid and Psyche).

It was used as dining room.

The story depicted on its walls comes from "the golden ass" by Apuleius (a Roman writer).

It was about the impossible love between an immortal god and a mortal girl.

The Giants' Room (Camera dei Giganti) is quite surely the highlight of this building.

It is completely frescoed.

On the painting you can see Jupiter' s brothers (the giants).

They were punished for having gone to the Olimpus to try to conquer it.

Then Jupiter hurled lightings on the mountain that collapsed over the giants.

Here you see part of the gardens.

There are some loggias in the palace. I suppose there are two of them.

At both sides of the loggias there are the entrances of two rooms.

After the visit to the palace I headed to a nice place...the Grotta or Appartamento Segreto.

This place consists of some rooms with frescoes, a small garden and an artificial grotto (Grotta).

The Grotta was a place of contemplation and rest.

Here you see part of the grotto. It was used as bathroom.

Another pic of the grotto.

I visited Palazzo Te with a large group. Here you see part of it.

On the upper floor of Palazzo Te there is the Museo Civico; the municipal museum of the city.

I haven' t visited it.

I have read there are paintings, coins and even Egyptians items there.

I liked very much this palace. I strongly recommend a visit there if you are in Mantua!