Medieval frescos well-preserved in Cuneo

By Chung Ah-young

Staff reporter

Preserving historical heritage is always a tough task - sometimes it is a matter of how to preserve rather than what to preserve.

The frescos in the Manta Castle near Saluzzo, a medieval town in Cuneo in the Piemonte region of Italy, retain the original richness of the important artistic elements of the late medieval times due to delicate restoration.

Managed by the Italian cultural heritage fund FAI, the castle was restored to its original splendor after a three-year project that began in 2006 and ended in 2009. Like other institutions that care for countless historical sites in Italy, the FAI offers the necessary maintenance and safeguarding of the castle and its frescos, which are of the greatest artistic value. The restoration of the cycle of 15th-century frescos also uncovered the original 14th-century decorations.

The structure was originally built as a fortress in the 12th century and later transformed by the powerful Saluzzo della Manta family who owned the property for over 400 years, into an aristocratic palace.

The castle is noted for the masterful but mysterious frescos by an anonymous painter in the Baronial Hall. The cycle of frescos represents a rare example of northern-Italian and late-gothic secular painting. “Fountain of Youth” immortalizes the ancient dream of eternal youth, whereas the “Male and Female Worthies” refers to the leading lights of the House of Saluzzo. The Hall of Grotesque is marked by splendid ceiling decorated with mannerist paintings and stucco.

Some parts of the frescos are damaged but remain intact from repainting or artificial additions. “Italians do not repaint to restore the frescos and other historical relics. They just clean them,” Karen, a local guide, said.

Not only the Manta Castle but also other historical places in the province are well preserved, keeping their traditional assets and original beauty.

Near the castle, the medieval town of Saluzzo, dominated by the profile of Mt. Viso, was the capital of a marquisate that lasted four centuries and retains its historical center.

The town’s imposing castle called “Castiglia” overlooks the 14th-century historical center, featuring cobbled alleys, steep flights of steps, churches and stately homes.

The old Town Hall and the Municipal Tower offer exceptional viewpoints over the town.

The town is also renowned for its wooden crafts, particularly for harps and is home to many antique shops. It preserves the old, narrow streets which contrasts, but coexists perfectly with the new, wider street.

Nine kilometers from Saluzzo is Staffarda Abbey that was established in 1135 and was the main monastery in the area, directly linked to the marquise’s family.

The church features a typical Romanesque Lombard style whereas Cistercian Gothic predominates in the cloister, the chapter house, the guestrooms and the market hall located in the central square.

Also, the Royal Castle of Racconigi, a palace and summer residence of the Savoy Family is registered by UNESCO in the World Heritage Sites list. It is surrounded by an immense garden spanning over 180 hectares as the family loved hunting.

The castle expresses art and style throughout three centuries from the middle of 1600 to the first decades of 1800 anticipating the Neo-Classical period in the middle of 1700.