Frescoes at Runkelstein Castle

After becoming enchanted with the story of Ötzi, we headed toward the outskirts of Bolzano to visit Runkelstein Castle, or Castel Roncolo.  Built in 1237, this castle features frescoes from the Middle Ages that depict famous figures, like King Arthur and Tristan and Iseult, and scenes from the lives of royalty.  The well-preserved frescoes in the inner chambers impressed me; everywhere I looked, more details presented themselves, from the facial expressions on the figures to the intricacies of the clothing to the animals that seemed so integral to the lives of their owners. 

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We tried to hold hands like this as we walked through the chambers.  Very fancy.

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The complexity of the frescoes may be the reason that some of them were left incomplete.  In addition to the major scene of a joust in the above picture, the borders are ornately decorated with symbols for different groups and feathery flourishes.  I can only imagine that this artwork took years to create.   

Great Italian art, he is.

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Then, we headed over to the restaurant for some Easter-inspired dishes.  Ben had Gröstl, which is a specialty of South Tyrol: beef, potatoes, onions, butter schmalz, and a big egg on top.  Bacon-topped coleslaw came on the side.  For me, it was pasta with a lamb ragù - expertly seasoned and so, so good.   

The view from our walk home - I'm so grateful for this experience.