Palazzo Te is a palace in the suburbs of Mantua, an excellent example of Mannerist architecture and the masterpiece of Giulio Romano, a student of Raphael. The palace is structured as a square building enclosing a traditional courtyard. An impressive garden surrounds the house, featuring a semi-circular structure called an exedra.

However, the main beauty of the palace lies in its wall paintings. For ten years, a team of plasterers and fresco painters worked tirelessly until nearly every wall was adorned. Under Romano’s direction, local decorative painters such as Benedetto Pagni and Rinaldo Mantovano labored continuously on the frescoes. In the 17th century, when the Austrians invaded Mantua, the palace was plundered, leaving only the stunning wall decorations: nymphs, gods, goddesses, and giants.