Palazzo San Sebastiano, Renaissance museum in Mantua, Italy
Palazzo San Sebastiano is a Renaissance palace in Mantua that now functions as a museum with multiple exhibition areas. Its collections feature artworks and objects that document the city's artistic heritage.
The palace was built between 1506 and 1508 under Francesco II Gonzaga's orders and served as the family's principal residence. Over the centuries, it passed through different uses before becoming a museum.
This served as a Gonzaga family residence for generations, and its rooms still carry traces of Renaissance court life. Visitors can sense how powerful families once moved through these spaces.
The best time to visit is in the morning when it is less crowded. The building sits in the city center and is easily reached on foot from the main areas.
A major Renaissance artwork that once hung here is now in a British collection and remains one of Mantegna's most celebrated paintings. Its absence reminds visitors of how artworks traveled across Europe over the centuries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.