At  Palazzo Besta, this 16th-century aristocratic mansion, you can breathe in the air of an era bent on the pursuit of beauty and love of life.

Theheart of the palace is the magnificent inner courtyard framed by a loggia with nimble vaulted columns to which the frescoed walls depicting scenes from the Aeneid and the polychrome medallions of the owners of the palace contrast.

Worth visiting on the main floor are:
The hall of honor decorated with scenes from Orlando Furioso, the dining room with its splendid umbrella ceiling and the creation room.
The rooms on the ground floor house theAntiquarium Tellinum, which collects evidence ofValtellina's civilization andart, among them are the three "Caven" stones, including the Mother Goddess or Fertility.

Palazzo Besta is state property used as a museum, in consignment to the Soprintendenza per i Beni Architettonici e Paesaggistici della regione Lombardia.

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Photo credit: ClickAlps