Golden Suites ItalyPalazzo Te in Mantua: what to see, tickets and times
At a glance
- Opening times: Mondays and Wednesday to Sunday 9am–7pm; Tuesdays 1pm–7pm; ticket office until 6pm
- Tickets: €18, reduced €13, €8 for ages 12 to 18; free up to age 11
- Included: Museo MACA in Palazzo San Sebastiano and the Tempio di San Sebastiano
- Duration: an hour and a half to two hours
- Where: south of the centre, about 20 minutes' walk from Piazza delle Erbe
Palazzo Te is the villa that Giulio Romano, a pupil of Raphael, designed and decorated for Federico II Gonzaga in the first half of the sixteenth century, on an island that then lay just outside the city. It was where the lord of Mantua came for leisure and to hold receptions, and its painted rooms are among the most spectacular of the Renaissance.
What to see
The Sala dei Giganti (Hall of the Giants)
It is the most famous room: walls and ceiling form a single painted scene, the fall of the Giants who defied Jupiter, with the architecture collapsing all around. As you enter you have the impression that the room is about to cave in on you: it was exactly the effect Giulio Romano wanted to achieve.
The Room of Cupid and Psyche
It tells the fable of Cupid and Psyche with scenes of banquets and deities, and is the room that best conveys the festive atmosphere of the villa.
The Room of the Horses
It portrays, life-size, the horses of the Gonzaga stables, famous throughout Europe.
The courtyard, the loggia and the garden
The great courtyard, the Loggia of David and the garden with its exedra complete the visit. The palace also has spaces for temporary exhibitions, which change during the year.
Tickets
- Full price: €18.
- Reduced: €13 (over-65s, groups of 15 to 25 people, residents of the Municipality of Mantua and some partner cards).
- Special reduced rate: €8 for ages 12 to 18 and for university students.
- Free: children up to age 11.
- Family: €45 for up to two adults and three minors.
- Palazzo Te + Sonnabend Collection: €20, to be used within 48 hours.
The ticket also includes the Museo MACA in Palazzo San Sebastiano and Leon Battista Alberti's Tempio di San Sebastiano, both a few steps away, with one entry for each site.
Opening times
Mondays and Wednesday to Sunday from 9am to 7pm; Tuesdays from 1pm to 7pm. The ticket office closes at 6pm. It is closed only on 25 December and is open on other public holidays. Booking a ticket online is not compulsory, but it is recommended at weekends and on public holidays to avoid the queue.
Good to know
- Eating and drinking are not allowed in the rooms, and smoking is not allowed anywhere on the site, gardens included.
- Animals on a lead are not admitted; small dogs may enter in a carrier. Guide dogs are always admitted.
- Palazzo Te is open on Mondays, when the Ducal Palace is closed: if you are in Mantua on a Monday, it is the right visit.
- On the way from the centre you pass the Casa del Mantegna and the Tempio di San Sebastiano.
Combine Palazzo Te with the Gonzaga palace with our one-day itinerary, and read the guide to the Ducal Palace too.
Frequently asked questions
Is Palazzo Te open on Mondays?
Yes: on Mondays it is open from 9am to 7pm. On Tuesdays it opens at 1pm. It is closed only on 25 December.
How much is entry to Palazzo Te?
€18 full price, €13 reduced, €8 for ages 12 to 18; children up to age 11 go in free. The ticket includes the Museo MACA and the Tempio di San Sebastiano.
How long does a visit to Palazzo Te take?
An hour and a half or two hours, garden included. Allow another half hour for the Tempio di San Sebastiano.
What is the most famous room in Palazzo Te?
The Sala dei Giganti, painted by Giulio Romano: walls and ceiling depict the fall of the Giants and seem to collapse on whoever enters.
Sources and further reading
Information checked against the official websites on 22 October 2026:
