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The true origins of fresco painting are somewhat mysterious, but it is believed to date back to around 1500 BC with the Minoan civilization in Greece. It wasn't until the 15th century, however, that fresco painting truly flourished across Europe, perfected by Renaissance legends like Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo Da Vinci (who, interestingly, were artists before they became the names of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).
Frescoes are typically painted directly onto walls by applying pigment onto fresh, wet lime plaster, which hardens as it dries, making the artwork permanent. Another technique, known as fresco secco (dry fresco), involves painting on dry plaster that has been soaked with limewater, allowing for touch-ups. Both techniques require exceptional skill and precise preparation.
Here’s a curated list of some of the world’s most renowned and stunning frescoes that belong on your ‘must-see’ travel list—even if you're not a die-hard art fan. Some are still located near or on their original sites, while others have been preserved in museums around the globe.
10. Behold, 2017 by Ali Cavanaugh
Frescoes as large and grand as those from the Renaissance era are rare today, but the modern world still boasts incredible fresco artists like Russian-born iLia Anossov, Italian-trained art conservator Elisabetta Covizzi Perfetti, and Ben Long, a biblical fresco artist who studied under Pietro Annigoni.
What stands out today are the ethereal watercolor paintings by American artist Ali Cavanaugh, often called “modern frescoes.” She creates her works on wet kaolin clay panels, using translucent watercolor pigments and synthetic brushes on white surfaces, which gives her paintings a glowing, backlit appearance. Her art is featured in galleries and can be purchased as prints and books.
No matter where your travels take you, you’re bound to come across frescoes by contemporary artists.
9. The Sigiriya Paintings
Make sure the Sigiriya paintings in central Sri Lanka are on your list. King Kasyapa, who ruled from 477 to 495 AD, established his grand kingdom at Sigiriya, where he had a 200-meter-high (656-foot) rock painted white in an effort to replicate the Buddhist mythological city of Alakamanda.
Displeased with the initial design, he instructed his architects to embellish the western face of the rock with secular artwork, resulting in the stunning frescoes featuring 500 semi-nude women in vibrant hues.
The creation of this fresco lustro (a technique where pigments are mixed with a mild binding agent) required great effort. Bamboo scaffolding surrounded the rock, and materials were hauled up the wall by hand by stonemasons and painters. Today, only 20 of these paintings remain, but they are in remarkable condition, even after over 1,600 years of exposure to the elements.
8. The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci
Living in the same era as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci is often considered one of the greatest fresco painters of the Renaissance. His masterpiece, The Last Supper, measures 6 meters (15 feet) high and nearly 8.8 meters (29 feet) wide. Painted on the wall of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan in 1498, it is still carefully preserved and displayed today. This fresco portrays the biblical scene of Jesus’ final meal with his disciples, during which he reveals the identity of the one who would betray him, leading to his crucifixion in Jerusalem.
While The Last Supper was influenced by the artistic conventions of its time, it is not entirely accurate to the biblical context. Various accounts suggest that the disciples would have been younger than depicted and would have reclined during the meal, rather than sitting upright as shown. However, this may have been a deliberate artistic choice by Da Vinci to ensure all the figures were visible to the viewer—similar to how modern film and television use camera angles to reveal all characters in a scene.
This fresco has not been preserved as well as other works from the same period, as da Vinci painted it directly on a stone surface and sealed it with tempura. The resulting moisture buildup led to repeated restoration efforts to maintain the artwork.
7. Rare 12th-Century Fresco Survives the Crusades
When you visit the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, don't miss a truly rare discovery: a 9-meter (29.5-foot) long fresco from the 12th century, uncovered in 1999 during excavations near the Garden of Gethsemane. This painting was found in buildings that were part of the Abbey of St. Mary of the Valley of Jehoshaphat—one of the few churches that managed to survive the destruction caused by Saladin and the Crusaders.
At the time of its discovery, this fresco was the largest to be unearthed from archaeological digs in Israel. Its restoration was one of the most complex ever attempted. The preserved portions of the fresco depict a scene in which Mary and John the Baptist plead with Jesus to forgive humanity. Sadly, only the lower portions of the figures are visible in the main image, with Jesus seated at the center, Mary to his right, and John the Baptist to his left.
Flanking the figures are colorful floral tendrils, and inscribed beside them is a Latin quote from Saint Augustine: “Who injures the name of an absent friend, may not at this table as guest attend.” This was likely directed at those visiting the monastery for a meal.
6. The Last Judgement by Giorgio Vasari
The grand fresco, The Last Judgement, another masterpiece from the Italian Renaissance, was started by Giorgio Vasari in 1572. Unfortunately, Vasari passed away in 1574 before completing the work. Federico Zuccaro took over the project and finished it five years later. The style of the painting is reminiscent of Michelangelo’s work, whom Vasari greatly admired.
The fresco was designed to evoke both awe and fear in the congregation, depicting twenty-four elders gazing down upon choirs of angels and groups of saints. These figures symbolize the gifts of the Holy Spirit, virtues, and the beatitudes on the lower levels. At the lowest tier, most visible from below, is a dark and foreboding portrayal of hell, teeming with suffering unbelievers.
Make sure to visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy, to witness this incredible artwork firsthand.
5. The Frescoes of Akrotiri
In early Greece, frescoes were primarily simple monochrome wall paintings, often in red and black, depicting athletic figures typically associated with Olympic Games imagery. The Minoans, who lived in Knossos, Crete, were pioneers in creating frescoes of natural landscapes, often without any human figures. Thanks to advancements in plaster and pigment technology—and possibly influenced by Egypt and the Near East—vividly colored murals of nature and everyday life were discovered in excavations, preserved after volcanic eruptions briefly covered them.
During the mid-19th century, mining activities on the island of Santorini for volcanic tephra—used to help build the Suez Canal—unearthed numerous ancient artifacts. Many of these are now displayed at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, particularly in the Thera Gallery. Among the significant finds are frescoes from the Akrotiri settlement in Thera (Santorini), including stunning nature scenes and the famous depiction of Akrotiri boxers. This exhibition is a must-see for visitors to Athens.
4. The Investiture of Zimri-Lim
One of the world’s oldest and most revered frescoes is The Investiture of Zimri-Lim, which once decorated a wall in the royal palace of Mari, Syria, dating back to around 18 BC. The fresco depicts the ritual in which Zimri-Lim is anointed as king, part of a ceremony that honors the ancient Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar (also known as Inanna in Sumerian culture).
The artist behind this fresco remains unidentified, but it was discovered by archaeologists in 1936 during excavations of the ancient city-state. Due to significant fire damage, much of the painting has been lost, and the Louvre Museum in Paris regularly conducts restoration work on the fresco, which is now housed there.
3. The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo
Undoubtedly one of the most iconic frescoes ever, Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam (circa 1512) adorns the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Measuring 280 cm × 570 cm (9 ft 2 in × 18 ft 8 in), this fresco vividly portrays the biblical moment of man’s creation, as described in the Book of Genesis. Part of a larger series of biblical scenes that decorate the chapel’s ceiling, the painting reflects Michelangelo’s signature sculptural approach to painting, setting it apart from other depictions of creation before and during his time.
The fresco centers around two key figures—God, depicted as an elderly yet powerful man, and Adam, reclining comfortably in the presence of his Creator. Accompanying them are wingless angels supporting God, and beneath his left shoulder, a woman with a young child beside her.
Scholars remain divided on the interpretation of certain elements of the scene. Some argue that the woman is Eve, the first woman created from Adam’s rib, while others believe she represents Mary, the mother of Jesus, with the child symbolizing her future son. The famous gesture of their hands touching is traditionally understood as God giving life to Adam, as the title of the fresco suggests and as it was commissioned. However, contemporary interpretations often suggest alternative meanings, adding layers of complexity to this already iconic piece of art. The Creation of Adam remains one of the world’s most beautiful and widely reproduced works of art, frequently appearing in digital and print media, from motivational posters to advertisements.
2. The Almost-Perfectly Preserved Frescoes of Pompeii
On August 24, AD 79, around noon, the cities of Herculaneum, Stabiae, Oplontis, Boscoreale, and Pompeii (which had a population ranging from 10,000 to 20,000) were completely buried under 6 to 7 meters (19 to 23 feet) of volcanic ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Located near Naples in Italy, Pompeii is the most well-known of these cities, where every living thing perished that fateful day.
It wasn't until nearly seventeen centuries later that these cities were uncovered, when tunnel diggings began in the early 1700s. The first finds, including mosaics, sculptures, and fragments of frescoes, were relocated to the Archaeological Museum in Naples. However, between 1760 and 1804, excavation efforts became more systematic, and restoration work started at the site.
Frescoes, depicting everything from historical and mythological scenes to domestic life, portraits, landscapes, and still lifes, were discovered throughout Pompeii, remarkably well-preserved. One of the most iconic Pompeian frescoes is the circular medallion known as 'Woman with Wax Tablets and Stylus' (Sappho), which reflects the era's tendency to depict women holding tablets and styluses, symbolizing their role in household management.
Yet, some frescoes unearthed revealed a more risqué aspect of life in Pompeii. Brothel walls were painted with explicit depictions of various sexual acts, providing a form of selection for 'customers.' However, such imagery was not confined to brothels. A fresco found by archaeologists in 2018, located in a private bedroom, depicted the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan. The provocative image shows a partially clothed Leda sensually draped over a chair, with a swan perched on her lap, nuzzling her neck.
While the frescoes were created by local artists, it is said that when Renoir visited Pompeii in 1881, he was so impressed by their exceptional artistry that he marveled at their skillful execution.
1. Embark on a Rock Art Safari in Africa
Rock Art, sometimes referred to as Bushman Art or Boesmantekeninge (in Afrikaans), consists of paintings and engravings made by the San People on rock surfaces and cave walls across Southern Africa. Some of these artworks date back over 3,000 years, with the prehistoric paintings found in Blombos Cave in the Western Cape believed to be over 70,000 years old. South Africa is home to some of the finest, most preserved, and impressive examples of rock art.
Rock art mainly depicts images of people and animals. While the exact reasons behind these paintings remain uncertain, it's possible that they were created as a form of self-expression, to convey messages, or perhaps for record-keeping purposes. Regardless of their intent, these artworks are remarkable examples of early fresco-like creations.
In addition to the Western Cape, rock art can also be found in the Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasts nearly 520 rock shelters, showcasing around 30,000 images that were painted approximately 4,000 years ago using natural materials like plant sap, animal blood, and ochre.
