• Art & Culture

Sondrio, the legend of Orlando

Castel Masegra is an imposing building which sits atop a 60m-tall rock, dominating the Sondrio skyline

Open for visiting from May to September on Saturdays and Sundays, you can get to Castel Masegra by heading to the medieval town of Sondrio, with the castle’s stunning balcony and breath-taking views of the town well worth the effort.

Though the castle was a military fortress in medieval times, it became a place of splendour during the Renaissance: the Beccaria family added a loggia and a painted room in the dovecote tower, resplendent with frescoes inspired by Orlando Furioso.

Yet it is not the only place to see the subject of Ludovico Ariosto’s epic poem: Orlando Furioso is also the subject of frescoes at Palazzo Besta in Teglio and Casa Valenti in Talamona.

Like early comic books, the frescoes tell the tale of the Christian paladin whose love for the beautiful Angelica erupted into rage when she married the Saracen knight Medoro. It was the height of cultural expression for the Beccaria and Besta families, yet it also represents the latent religious tensions at play in Valtellina in the 16th century, with the Catholic area occupied by the Protestants of Grisons.

Info: valtellina.it

Take me here: Sondrio, the legend of Orlando

On the same topic

The Longobard heritage of Pavia

A journey of discovery to uncover the ancient civilisation of the Longobards through the history of the city of Pavia.
  • Art & Culture
The Longobard heritage of Pavia

The Cloister of Voltorre

The monastic art of the Cloister of Voltorre
  • Art & Culture
The monastic art of The Cloister of Voltorre

Castles in Valtellina

A dive into the past between castles and towers in Valtellina
  • Art & Culture
A journey into the past among castles in Valtellina

Immerse yourself online in art in Lombardy

Visit online the architectural beauties, cities, monuments, museums, exhibitions and places of culture in Lombardy
  • Art & Culture
Immerse yourself online in art in Lombardy

Lombardy in Paintings by Great Italian Artists

The paintings that most beautifully capture Lombardy's scenery, an immersion in the region's landscapes and cityscapes
  • Art & Culture
La Lombardia nei quadri dei grandi pittori italiani

Five Art Refuges in the City

We can reveal some of the finest, most beautiful spaces that perhaps you did not know about
  • Art & Culture
Five Art Refuges in the City - Lombardy

Monuments Bergamo

Bergamo and its province offer monuments of rare beauty. Discover the main monuments to visit
  • Art & Culture
Monuments Bergamo, choose what to see in Lombardy

Bergamo Alta and its beauties

A historic center remained completely intact and surrounded entirely by walls
  • Art & Culture
A magic place, preserved throughout centuries

Theaters Brescia

Brescia will surprise you with the vitality of its theaters, where are staged prose, ballets and concerts
  • Art & Culture
Theaters Brescia, culture in Lombardy

Castles Cremona

Crossroads of trade and area of strong agricultural production, the Cremonese territory has always been guarded by castles
  • Art & Culture
@albertobr rete.comuni-italiani.it

Seven art works to discover in Milan

An artistic itinerary through the streets of Milan, discovering works that transform the city into an open-air gallery.
  • Art & Culture
Seven art works to discover in Milan

What to see in North Milan

The North Milan Area, between North Park and some must-see gems
  • Art & Culture
North Milan Area

Brescia in a weekend

From the Roman Brixia to the Opera Festival. Discover Brescia in 48 hours. A journey through time, between culture, passion and nightlife
  • Art & Culture
Brescia in a weekend

Varese UNESCO

4 siti UNESCO, indissolubilmente legati al paesaggio: Monte San Giorgio, Isolino Virginia, Monastero di Torba, Sacro Monte di Varese.
  • Art & Culture
Quinta cappella al Sacro Monte di Varese

Milan, following Leonardo’s footsteps

Pictorial suggestions and drawings. Machines and impressive hydraulic engineering works. In Milan, a journey in the wake of Leonardo
  • Art & Culture
Milan, following Leonardo’s footsteps

Gentileschi: Rest on the Flight into Egypt

  • Art & Culture
Gentileschi: Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Come to discover Cremona!

A new guide for children and families
  • Art & Culture
Come to discover Cremona!

Podcast: "Elsewhere in Lombardy"

Boundless beauty
  • Art & Culture
@inLombardia_Adobestock

Itinerary Mincio Po Rivers

A pleasant itinerary to discover the naturalistic and architectural riches of this strip of Lombardy.
  • Art & Culture
Itinerary of Mincio and Po rivers, exploring on two wheels

Monument Varese

Stately homes, religious buildings, fortifications and UNESCO treasures among the beauties of Varese and its surroundings
  • Art & Culture
Monument Varese, what to see