The west entrance is aligned with the entrance to the loggia of David beyond the court yard of Honour and is inspired architecturally by the atrium of the Roman domus (house). This layout was known during the sixteenth century thanks to the circulation of Vitruvius' writings. The rectangular space [...]
The room, called "camarino" (small room) due to its modest size, owes its name to the subject of some mythological representations depicted in the friezes, inspired by Ovid's Metamorphoses. From the entrance wall, proceeding towards the right, the subjects inspired by mythology are: Orpheus in the Underworld, The Torment of Marsyas (South wall), The [...]
The room, similar to the previous one in space and ornaments, owes its name to the main topic of the frieze: the devices (heraldic emblems) of the Gonzaga family. A device is a symbolic emblem made up of an image (called the "body") and a motto (called the "soul") through which virtues, love, moral [...]
The room owes its name to the fresco at the center of the vault, where the chariots of the Sun and the Moon are painted. Called “salotto” (living room), this room was used to show guests into the more private rooms of the Devices and of Ovid. At the [...]
The Loggia of the Muses was the entrance for guests who, from the "Cortile d'Onore" (Courtyard of Honor) came into the state rooms. Here, amongst frescoes and reliefs referring to the art and culture of the ancient times, Federico II used to welcome his visitors. The vault is dedicated to the Muses, protector deities [...]
Created to receive the guests and host the most important ceremonies, the room was created between 1526 and 1528 and owes its name to the portraits of the superb life size noble horses painted on the lower part of the frescoed portion of the walls. Federico, as his father [...]
The room, the most sumptuous of the palace for the richness and value of its decorations, owes its name to the story of Cupid ("Amore", i.e. "Love") and "Psyche", taken from the Metamorphosis by Apuleius, narrated on the vault and on the lunettes. The room, called "camaron quadroon" (i.e. [...]
The room which dates back to 1527-1528, owes its name to the masks of the personified winds in the lower part of the vault. The room is dedicated to the theme of astrology. The motif of the influence the stars have on man’s destiny, is reflected in the inscription quoting [...]
The room, used as a bedroom by Federico, owes its name to the four large black eagles with spread wings in the corners of the room.The sumptuous decoration of the vault, dated between 1527 and 1528, alternates stuccoes and paintings. The top of the ceiling is dominated by a [...]
The room, whose decorations may be dated back to the years 1530-1531, is so called because of the images of rulers and commanders painted on the ceiling, extolled as virtuous examples taken from ancient history. The fresco in the hexagon in the center of the vault is devoted to an [...]