One of the most beautiful villas in Italy and a masterpiece of the Mannerism palazzo Te was built by Giulio Romano between 1525 and 1535, as a suburban residence for Federico II Gonzaga. “Te” seems to be a place-name and has no relation with the word “tea” (te in Italian means tea). Federico chose this place where the family used to keep their horses and Giulio Romano, enclosing the old stables, created an extraordinary palace: the square plan recalling that of a roman villa, with a central courtyard and a low profile rustic architecture naturally blending in the green landscape of the surroundings. The back of the palace opens onto a garden with two side pools called Peschiere. An exedra was later added to close the garden. In the left corner of it a small building known as Secret Garden, a very private place probably recalling Isabella d’Este garden in the Ducal Palace. At Palazzo Te Federico spent his time with his mistress Isabellla Boschetti, the real love of his life, but the private residence soon became a state palace for the court official receptions. In 1530 the Emperor Charles V came to Mantua and was received here with great ceremony. On that occasion Federico was given the title of Duke. The Emperor came a second time, two years later, and was able to admire the vault of the Giants’ room, at the time almost completed.