Palazzo Besta, Renaissance palace and museum in Teglio, Italy.
Palazzo Besta is a Renaissance palace in Teglio centered around a rectangular courtyard lined with double loggias that feature arched columns. An octagonal stone well sits in the courtyard's center, while the interior rooms hold painted walls and the Antiquarium Tellinum collection of prehistoric stone objects.
Construction began in 1433 under the Besta family, who may have incorporated elements from an earlier medieval structure on the site. The family became influential merchants and patrons of the arts in the region over the following centuries.
The frescoed rooms on the first floor show scenes from classical literature and religious texts that were painted over nearly a century by successive artists. These wall paintings remain one of the main reasons visitors spend time exploring the palace's interior spaces today.
The palace sits in Teglio's old town center and is easily reached on foot through the town's narrow streets. Visitors should allow time to explore both the frescoed rooms and the Antiquarium section, as each requires careful attention to appreciate the details.
The Antiquarium section displays prehistoric stone slabs from the copper age that document the ancient history of the surrounding Valtellina region. These objects offer a fascinating contrast to the later painted artworks found elsewhere in the building.
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