Castel Cles, Medieval castle in Cles, Italy.
Castel Cles is a medieval castle set on a hill above Lake Santa Giustina in the Val di Non, in the province of Trento. It consists of a tower, residential buildings, and fortified walls that were extended and partly rebuilt in the Renaissance style over the centuries.
The fortress was built in the 12th century to guard an old Roman road running along the Noce stream. In the 16th century, Prince-Bishop Bernardo Clesio transformed it into a Renaissance residence and had the interior decorated with frescoes.
The castle takes its name from the Clesio family, one of the most powerful noble houses in the region during the 16th century. Inside, the walls still carry frescoes painted during that period, showing scenes drawn from ancient mythology.
The castle is private property of the Barons of Cles and is not open to visitors on a regular basis. Occasional events held in summer may allow access, so it is worth checking in advance before planning a visit.
One room inside the castle, known as the Saletta delle Metamorfosi, is decorated with frescoes by the painter Marcello Fogolino showing scenes from Ovid's Metamorphoses. Cycles of paintings based on classical literary texts are rarely found in private noble residences in the Trentino region.
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