Charlemagne and the Church of Santo Stefano

Carisolo is a small village in the province of Trento, rises to 801 meters and has 960 inhabitants. Its best known monument is certainly the ancient church of Santo Stefano, located on a spur of rock located between the Brenta Dolomites and the Adamello glaciers. The church is cemetery and rich in history, art and mystery. Its walls are copiously frescoed with works by Simone II Baschenis from Averara; the most famous is certainly the danse macabre where death warns those who are still alive. But among others there is a singular and mysterious fresco that Charlemagne paints with his court. The Emperor's journey from Bergamo to Valle Camonica and Trentino is narrated as reported in the large mural from an ancient parchment. The Emperor Franco is accompanied by an army of 4,000 men, attends the baptism of the pagans at the hands of the Pope and seven bishops, including, with the banner of the Holy Cross, the warrior bishop Turpino who will fall in Roncesvalles together with the brave Orlando. Charlemagne is depicted by Simon II Baschenis in sumptuous and spectacular royal robes, worthy of his role.