Intesa Sanpaolo sponsors the first major exhibition dedicated to Andrea Palladio in China

Following celebrations marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and China, the Italian Embassy in Beijing and the Italian Cultural Institute in Beijing organised the first major exhibition ever held in Asia dedicated to the architecture of Andrea Palladio, entitled 'Geometry, Harmony and Life. The Architecture of Andrea Palladio from Ancient to Classical', at the National Museum of China.

Intesa Sanpaolo – also through the IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division - is supporting the project with sponsorship that aims to further emphasize the Bank's role as a bridge between Italy and China, not only as a financial partner but also as a cultural one.

The exhibition, which runs until May 15, 2026, celebrates Palladian style by presenting over 100 objects that bear witness to the synthesis between ancient Roman architecture and Renaissance functionality.

The exhibition also draws parallels between classical Western architectural tradition and its Chinese counterpart, represented by works from the collections of the National Museum of China, highlighting the significant similarities between Eastern thought, as expressed in the treatise ‘Yingzao Fashi’, and Western thought, as expressed in Palladio's ‘The Four Books of Architecture’, published in Venice in 1570.