Parma and Mantova

I don't know how we manage getting everyone at the Lazzi (bus) station for these early morning art history excursions. That, and how Peter (even if he's sick) manages to have more energy than all of us put together (he keeps talking about these papaya supplements everyone takes here..).
As always, it was a great day.
Parma (birthplace of Parma ham and Parmesan cheese)is a wealthy medieval city with beautiful architecture and surrounding countryside. We spent our time there visiting sites with frescoes by Correggio.
We then visited Mantova in Lombardy where we walked through the post Raphaellian mannerist Plazzo del Te (creation of Guilio Romano, 1535). There we went through the many rooms of the 'pleasure palace' of Frederick II. He dedicated one room to his beloved horses, having portraits of his favourites on all four walls. Another room was dedicated to his lovers and features shocking erotic frescoes including giants animals and nymphs on the north wall.
After leaving the palace, we went to another exhibition then walked through the town into the old city and stopped to have tea in one of the big piazzas before heading home.
Pics: Piazza in Mantova, and Eva and one of the many signs found in all Italian cities with their very thorough illustrations-- mind the medieval castle in the background.