Castello del Buonconsiglio monumenti e collezioni provinciali

Renaissance Images and Culture

The Loggia, named “Romanino” after the artist who created the frescoed decoration between 1531 and 1532, occupies a central position on the first floor of the Magno Palazzo, opening through five arcades onto the Cortile dei Leoni. It’s the connection point for all the other buildings: from here one has direct access to the corridor behind the ancient kitchen and baths, to the upper floor and the Prince-Bishop’s apartments, the Sala Grande and other areas for official business, and then on down to the garden outside.

The Loggia’s decorations, made up of profane, allegorical, mythological, biblical and Roman history themes were all part of a complex iconographic scheme that reflected the Renaissance humanistic culture that was widespread in the courts and was also the image that the illustrious Prince-Bishop Bernardo Cles wished to portray.

Thanks to the restoration work carried out in 1985-1986, the frescoes now stand out in all their glory, especially the nudes that were liberated, so to speak, of their garments that were added on in a defacing manner, probably in the 18th century.

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