Fresco Museum of Bergamo, Fresco museum in Palazzo della Ragione, Città Alta, Italy
The Fresco Museum occupies the upper floor of Palazzo della Ragione and displays regional artwork within medieval architecture from the 12th century. The rooms are filled with frescoes that were collected from various local buildings and brought together here.
The museum opened in the 1980s on the initiative of Sandro Angelini, his son Piervaleriano and Francesco Rossi, then director of the Accademia Carrara, to save frescoes detached with the strappo technique. The Capriate hall itself was built in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 16th by Pietro Isabello after the fire of 1513.
The collections show scenes of daily life and religious imagery that reveal how people lived in the 15th century. You can see how work, family, and faith were woven together in that era.
The exhibition is located in the upper floors of the historic palace, so be prepared for stairs and varying levels throughout. Guided tours in multiple languages help explain fresco techniques and the context of individual pieces.
The hall's 2010 lighting system is made of assembled hexagons that recall stained-glass windows and beehives, designed to light the paintings on the walls. The room itself measures 26 by 24 metres and is covered by seven wooden trusses, which give the Sala delle Capriate its name.
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