Palazzo Assessorile, medieval palace, now an exhibition and conference venue in Cles, Trento, Trentino Alto-Adige
Palazzo Assessorile is a building in the center of Cles that began as a medieval stone tower and was expanded through Renaissance-era modifications. Three floors contain different spaces: the ground level was designed for storage, the middle floors served administration and private living, and the upper rooms are richly decorated with 16th-century frescoes.
The palazzo was built around 1356 as a defensive stone tower and initially served to control trade and borders in the region. In the 15th century, the structure underwent Renaissance-style renovation, with decorative elements like pointed-arch gates and crenellations added to the design.
The palace displays family symbols and emblems throughout its rooms, showing how the De Cles family connected power with artistic expression through painted walls and ceilings. The family's colors of white and red appear repeatedly in the frescoes, marking their presence in nearly every decorated space.
The building sits on Piazza del Municipio in the town center and is about a 10-minute walk from Cles train station. Opening hours focus on afternoons and late mornings, with visits available Tuesday through Sunday.
The third floor bears inscriptions and carvings left by prisoners held there for decades, who scratched their names into wooden walls. These subtle marks tell personal stories from a lesser-known chapter in the building's use and are carefully preserved today.
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