The Sixteenth Century: A New Beginning for Tenno

The sixteenth century marks the beginning of a new chapter for Tenno. With the exit of Venice, the region, with the exception of the county of Arco, fell under the influence of the emperor and the bishop, consolidating a political union that would endure for three centuries. This historical period is marked by three prominent figures: Eustachio de Neideck, captain of Tenno and Riva, Cardinal Adriano Castellesi da Corneto, and Bishop Bernardo Clesio. Let us focus on the second character, Cardinal Adriano Castellesi da Corneto, whose presence in Tenno and the rich folk tradition around his figure leave significant traces.

Adriano Castellesi da Corneto: A Figure of Relief.

Born in Corneto, present-day Tarquinia, after an annulled marriage, he undertook ecclesiastical studies. He later travels to Scotland and England, eventually becoming secretary to Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, future Pope Alexander VI. Castellesi was appointed bishop of Hereford and later of Bath and Wells, becoming cardinal in 1503. His career suffered a decline after the death of Pope Alexander VI, when his successor Julius II della Rovere was elected in his place. Presumably in disfavor with the new pontiff, Castellesi left Rome and settled in Venice after a long pilgrimage. In 1510, when Venice lost control of Upper Garda, he went to Trent, perhaps to discuss such matters with Emperor Maximilian, and later to Riva. During the plague years, 1511 to 1513, he is supposed to have resided in Tenno, where he may have lived in the hamlet of Frapporta, known locally as “Ca' del Cardinale.” Some identify him in the center of the village, where a plaque dating from 1501 and a fresco from the period are linked to his presence. Others locate his home at the far end of the contrada, where a recent renovation commemorated his figure with an inscription engraved on the front door. Count Nicolò d'Arco expressed gratitude to him for his intervention on behalf of his family in 1512 through a division of property known as the “adriana,” also wishing for the death of Pope Julius II so that he could take revenge and perhaps aspire to the papal throne.

The Castellesi Legacy in Tenno: Tangible Traces

Adriano Castellesi's legacy in Tenno can be seen in the renovation of the portal of the church of San Lorenzo, still adorned with the cardinal's coat of arms and a Latin inscription on the lintel. Inside the church, on the right wall of the nave, is a faded dedication, along with other Renaissance frescoes. There is some speculation that the dedication of San Lorenzo itself may have come from an artifact of the fountain erected by the cardinal outside the walls of Frapporta, which was destroyed during the French invasion of 1703.