House of Harlequin at Oneta ---

The fifteenth-century dwelling belonged to the noble local Grataroli family, who had made their fortune in Venice: it is believed that one of their servants inspired the character of Harlequin. Above the entrance staircase you will see a fresco: it depicts a very hairy man dressed in furs, wielding a stick. Just in case there was any doubt, the scroll reads unambiguously: "Chi non e' de chortesia, non intragi in chasa mia, se ge venes un poltron, ce daro' col mio baston" (whoever is not welcome shall not enter my house, if a lazy person comes, I will beat him with my stick). You should know that Harlequin represented the servants from val Brembana, considered opportunistic and unreliable, who in Venice performed humble and arduous work and therefore were always seeking expedients to get by.