Palazzo Te

About the museum

Palazzo Te was built between 1524 and 1534 by Giulio Romano for Federico II Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, as a pleasure residence separate from the ducal palace, on a reclaimed islet that his father Francesco II had used for training horses. The building, square in plan with a large central courtyard, is considered one of the masterpieces of Mannerist architecture.

Giulio Romano and his workshop decorated the rooms with extensive cycles of frescoes and stucco: from the Sala dei Cavalli, with portraits of the Gonzaga horses, to the Camera di Amore e Psiche, and the Camera dei Giganti, where the fall of the giants wraps around the whole space of the room. The palace also includes the Loggia di Davide, the Giardino segreto and the appartamento segreto.

After the end of Gonzaga rule the Austrian government used it as barracks; in 1876 the State handed it over to the municipality, which began restoration and opened it to visitors. Since 1990 it has also housed the Centro internazionale d'arte e di cultura di Palazzo Te, which organises exhibitions. Today the palace is home to the civic museum, with collections on the upper floor and temporary exhibitions. The ticket also gives access to the MACA museum and the Tempio di Leon Battista Alberti.

Highlights

• Camera dei Giganti, frescoed by Giulio Romano
• Camera di Amore e Psiche
• Sala dei Cavalli with portraits of the Gonzaga horses
• Loggia di Davide and Giardino segreto
• Appartamento segreto
• Collections on the upper floor

Permanent exhibition

• Sale affrescate di Giulio Romano – Route through the monumental rooms of the palace, from the Sala dei Cavalli to the Camera dei Giganti, with the loggia and secret garden.

Operated by

Comune di Mantova / Fondazione Palazzo Te

Visitors per year

approx. 239,457

Admission & discounts

The ticket also allows entry to the MACA museum and the Tempio Leon Battista Alberti, one entry per site. Advance purchase is not compulsory but is recommended at weekends and on public holidays, and carries a pre-sale fee. Free for journalists, ICOM members, holders of the Abbonamento Musei Piemonte–Lombardia–Valle d'Aosta, police on duty and licensed guides. With the Mantova e Sabbioneta Card (72 hours), admission is included.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The route through the monumental rooms is on a single level and is wheelchair accessible; the upper-floor collections can only be reached by two flights of stairs, with no lift. Two wheelchairs are available on free loan with ID. In the introductory rooms there are tactile maps with Braille captions and a video in LIS; a guide and a Braille map are available on loan. Free audio guides for blind and partially sighted visitors. Reserved spaces in the Parcheggio Primaticcio, 100 m from the palace.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum offers educational routes for children and families, and a family ticket.

Getting there & parking

On foot about 15 minutes from the city centre, by bicycle about 10. A22 motorway, exit Mantova Sud or Mantova Nord. Radio Taxi Mantova +39 0376 368844.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

Spazio Te with a bistro-café and reading room. Bookshop along the visitor route. Wi-Fi in indoor and outdoor areas, free access via a login portal. Bag storage only for large bags, while space lasts. Water refill point for bottles.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Private visits, private events and company meetings (spaziote@fondazionepalazzote.it); civil weddings in the Sala dei Cavalli, the Camera di Amore e Psiche and the Loggia di Davide.

Plan your visit