The room stands out for the richness of its decoration. The walls are entirely covered with frescoes, while the ceiling is enhanced by a magnificent carved wooden covering, regarded as one of the artistic masterpieces of the palace. The large central coffer, distinguished by its refined interplay of carving and volume, is dominated by the figure of Fame, while the side panels depict Venus riding a chariot drawn by swans.

The room takes its name from the iconographic representations of the twelve zodiac signs, each depicted through its traditional symbol: animals, human figures or mythological creatures. Beneath each zodiac sign, the corresponding month is represented by male figures illustrating the principal agricultural activities of rural life, from work in the vineyards and the grain harvest to the grape harvest, chestnut gathering and the seasonal tasks of winter.

The painted decoration is also distinguished by numerous scenes inspired by classical mythology. The frescoes depict episodes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, featuring figures such as Glaucus and Scylla, Tantalus and Pelops, Circe, Latona, Niobe, King Midas and Atalanta, within an elaborate decorative programme combining symbolic references, mythological narratives and elements of Renaissance humanist culture.

The quality of the frescoes has long been recognised by scholars, who have highlighted their vibrant colours, refined execution and careful use of relief effects, making the Hall of the Zodiac one of the most outstanding decorative spaces within the entire residence.

The fame of this room extended beyond the Valchiavenna as early as the beginning of the twentieth century. For the International Exhibition held in Rome in 1911, the hall was faithfully reproduced, with the permission of the owners, as one of the most significant expressions of Lombard art. This recognition bears witness to the historical and artistic importance of one of the most fascinating spaces within Palazzo Vertemate Franchi.

The hall opens beneath a vaulted ceiling decorated with elegant geometric and floral motifs, while the walls are articulated by allegorical figures and deities from the classical world. Hercules, Neptune, Saturn and Vulcan are depicted as representations of the four fundamental elements: air, water, earth and fire. The choice of this theme is far from accidental, reflecting the humanist culture of the Vertemate Franchi family and their intention to transform the villa’s entrance into a place rich in philosophical and symbolic meaning.

The deities are set within a decorative scheme rich in detail that interacts harmoniously with the architecture of the space. Visitors are welcomed into an environment that serves not merely as a passage to the interior rooms, but as a true introduction to the artistic and cultural world of the residence.

Over time, scholars have devoted particular attention to this room, seeking to interpret the meaning of its figures and identify the artists responsible for the decoration. Today, the frescoes are generally attributed to painters from the Valsolda area, confirming the artistic value of the palace’s entire decorative cycle.

The entrance hall also preserves important historical evidence connected with the visitors who passed through the villa in the centuries that followed. Numerous inscriptions, including one dated 1619, can still be read on the walls, recalling the long history of this place and the fascination it has held for generations of travellers.

Observing the entrance hall of Palazzo Vertemate Franchi means reading a true manifesto of Renaissance culture: a space where art, mythology and symbolism come together to express the worldview of one of the most important families in the Valchiavenna.

The eastern side of the complex is home to the rural area, where buildings once used for managing the agricultural estate can still be seen. Some of these structures even predate the construction of the palace, bearing witness to the site’s long-standing rural vocation.

Among the most important features is the screw wine press, used for processing grapes. Compared with the older beam presses traditionally found throughout the Valchiavenna, it represents a more advanced type of press and documents the evolution of local winemaking techniques.

Beside the wine press stands the ice house, an ingenious system used to preserve food throughout the year. Snow and ice collected during the winter were stored inside a deep cylindrical chamber, while the side niches connected to the central cavity were used to keep food cool for long-term preservation.

Among the structures associated with the chestnut grove were also the drying house, used for drying chestnuts, and the still employed to produce grappa from grape pomace. Together, these buildings show that Palazzo Vertemate Franchi was not only an elegant residence but also the centre of a complex agricultural system fully integrated with the landscape of the Valchiavenna.

Visiting the agricultural buildings of Palazzo Vertemate Franchi offers the opportunity to discover a lesser-known aspect of the estate, where traditional tools, preservation techniques and farming activities tell the story of everyday life in this great Renaissance residence.

The outdoor route first leads visitors to the Italian garden, laid out according to a geometric design and enhanced by the ornamental fish pond with its double exedra balustrade. At the centre stands a fountain featuring the statue of Hercules, while the wall facing the road still preserves traces of the original frescoes dedicated to water and the sea.

Descending from the garden, visitors reach the large orchard, which offers a striking view of the western façade of the palace, framed by the small church and the mountains of the Val Bregaglia. The landscaped grounds also include the vineyard, vegetable gardens and chestnut grove, bearing witness to the agricultural vocation that shaped life at the villa for centuries.

The chestnut grove is one of the most characteristic areas of the estate. From here it is possible to overlook the palace’s northern courtyard, an intimate and shaded space that highlights the harmonious relationship between the building and its natural surroundings.

Visiting the gardens of Palazzo Vertemate Franchi means discovering a historic landscape where nature, cultivation and architecture still coexist according to the original Renaissance design, offering one of the most captivating views in the Valchiavenna.