The fake painted windows of a building in Chiavari.
Chiavari, a picturesque town on the Ligurian coast, is famous for its beaches and its historic center.
As in many Ligurian villages, you can come across a curious architectural phenomenon: painted windows. These windows, known as “The fake windows”, are a fascinating example of trompe-l’œil, an artistic technique that creates the illusion of three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface.
Walking through the streets of Chiavari, it is easy to be fooled by these painted windows. At first glance, they seem like real openings that overlook bright and tastefully furnished rooms. However, upon closer inspection, you discover that they are only mural paintings, made with such mastery that they fool even the most attentive eye.
The painted windows date back to the 18th century, a period in which the art of trompe-l’œil was very popular in Europe. The owners of the palace, eager to give a touch of elegance and grandeur to their home, commissioned a local artist to create these works. The aim was to create the illusion of a larger and more luxurious palace, without having to face the costs and difficulties of a real renovation.
The trompe-l’œil technique requires great artistic skill and a deep knowledge of the laws of perspective. The artist must be able to reproduce shadows, lights and details with such precision as to create a convincing three-dimensional effect. In the case of the Chiavari windows, the skillful use of colors and shades has made it possible to obtain a surprisingly realistic result.
Today, the painted windows are considered an artistic and cultural heritage of the city. They attract tourists and art lovers from all over the world, eager to admire this extraordinary illusion up close. Local authorities are working to preserve these works, ensuring that they remain intact for future generations.

Have you ever noticed these decorations?
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Photo taken with Canon EOS RP and lens Canon RF 28.

The fake painted windows of a building in Chiavari – Les fausses fenêtres peintes d’un palais de Chiavari – Las ventanas falsas pintadas de un palacio en Chiavari – As falsas janelas pintadas de um palácio em Chiavari – Die gefälschten bemalten Fenster eines Palastes in Chiavari – Cửa sổ sơn giả của một cung điện ở Chiavari

The text of the post was written with the help of Copilot, a virtual assistant based on artificial intelligence.