Trento

<< Trentino-Alto Adige

Trento is the capital of Trentino-Alto Adige, it’s located in a valley along the Adige river and it’s one of the most important cities in the Alps. Inhabited since ancient times, it was a Roman town but it truly rose to prominence in the Middle Ages, as the seat of an independent bishopric. During the centuries-long rule of the prince-bishops, Trento flourished and became renowned for hosting the Council of Trent in the 16th century, which started the Catholic Counter-Reformation. During the Napoleonic Wars Trento was annexed by the Habsurg Empire and it was ruled by Austria until World War I, when it joined Italy. Today Trento is one of the most modern and wealthy cities in Italy, and a major educational and scientific hub, often ranking highly in quality of life.

✪ MUSE – Museo delle Scienze

MUSE is one of the largest and most important science museums in Italy, and it was designed by Renzo Piano. A successor to the city’s natural history museum, MUSE hosts various exhibitions on the local environment, geology, and prehistory, while also housing zoology and biology sections, and a large collection of fossils. MUSE also serves as a research center and hosts laboratories and temporary exhibitions.

✪ Doss Trento

Doss Trento is a hill and a park located on the west bank of the Adige river, with a great panoramic view over the city. It hosts various attractions, such as the Mausoleum of Cesare Battisti, a 1930s monument dedicated to a prominent Italian irredentist. Next to this monument are the remains of the Paleochristian Basilica of Doss Trento, originally erected in the Early Middle Ages, and the National Historical Museum of the Alpini (Museo Nazionale Storico degli Alpini), a large exhibition on the Alpini military corp.

✪ Buonconsiglio Castle

The Buonconsiglio Castle is a large fortification on the top of a hill that dominates the center of Trento. It was the seat of the Prince-Bishopric of Trento and it was erected starting in the 13th century and it was expanded several times, creating a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. Among the most noteworthy decorations of the castle is the Cycle of the Months (Ciclo dei Mesi), a series of 15th-century frescoes. The castle now serves as a museum hosting a collection of art and archaeology.

✪ Trento Cathedral

Also known as: Cathedral of San Vigilio

The Trento Cathedral (Duomo di Trento) is the main religious building of the city, located on a side of Piazza Duomo. It is a large Romanesque cathedral built starting in the 13th century over a previous Paleochristian basilica, with some areas of this ancient church that can be visited. The Trento Cathedral is also famous for having hosted the Council of Trent between 1545 and 1563. The exterior is adorned with various decorations, while the interiors hosts historic artworks and frescoes.

Piazza Duomo

Piazza Duomo is the main square of Trento, dominated on the southern side by the large cathedral. While Palazzo Pretorio stands on the east, other historic buildings facing the square are the richly decorated Casa Baludini, Casa Cazuffi and Casa Rella. The center of Piazza Duomo is occupied by the 18th-century Fountain of Neptune (Fontana del Nettuno).

Palazzo Pretorio

Palazzo Pretorio is a medieval building on the eastern side of Piazza Duomo, featuring the iconic 11th-century Civic Tower. Palazzo Pretorio was the residence of the bishops of Trento between the 9th and 13th century, and now it hosts the Tridentine Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano Tridentino). The museum houses a large collection of artworks and it includes a section displaying the history of the Council of Trent.

Church of Santa Maria Maggiore

The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is a Renaissance and Baroque church famous for being one of the places where the Council of Trent was held. The current structure was built during the 16th century on the site of a previous church, and it features various artworks and decorations.

Civic Gallery of Trento

The Civic Gallery of Trento (Galleria Civica di Trento) is an exhibition space for contemporary art located in the center of Trento. It hostes a collection of modern artworks and it serves as Trento’s section of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto.

Church of Santi Pietro e Paolo

The Church of Santi Pietro e Paolo is a 15th-century church in the center of Trento. It is one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in the city and it features an elaborate facade.

Palazzo delle Albere

Palazzo delle Albere is a Renaissance fortified palace located next ot the Adige river. It was built during the 16th century and it is surrounded by a park. Once the seat of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto, now it used for temporary exhibitions.

Torre Vanga

Torre Vanga is a large medieval tower built during the 13th century and the most important remaining part of the ancient city walls. Once located on the Adige river, before it was diverted, it served as a strong defensive position next to a bridge.

Gallerie di Piedicastello

The Gallerie di Piedicastello are former road tunnels running underneath Doss Trento. Closed in 2007, they were turned into a unique exhibition space and a venue for various events.

Gianni Caproni Aeronautics Museum

The Gianni Caproni Aeronautics Museum (Museo dell’Aeronautica Gianni Caproni) is an aviation museum located in the Trento-Mattarello Airport. It is the oldest aviation museum in Italy and it was founded in 1927 near Milan, moving to Trento only in 1992. The museum features a large collection of historic aircrafts and exhibitions of the history of flight, along with various other objects and artworks.