Tips for Trento (in winter)

Are you going on a skiing holiday in Trentino and would you like to spend a day doing something other than skiing? Are you a big fan of Christmas markets? Or do you just want to discover an atmospheric city in Northern Italy? Then think of Trento.

Trento, atmospheric and versatile city in Trentino-South Tyrol

Trento is the capital of the Trentino region and is located in the elongated valley along the River Adige in northern Italy, northeast of Lake Garda.

About 115.000 people live there. The center is quite small and car-free, ideal for exploring the city on foot. Trento has well regarded university.

Originally it was a Celtic city that was later conquered by the Romans, when it was long the seat of the independent diocese of Trento and then belonged to Austria.

Only after the First World War did Trento rejoin Italy. You can see this two-thousand-year history in various places.

You can visit excavations of the ancient Roman city, see the Duomo from the late Middle Ages or go to MUSE, the science museum that opened its doors in 2013.

Trento is probably best known for the ecclesiastical Council of Trento that took place here from 1545-1563.

This is seen as the beginning of the Counter Reformation. They came together to tackle, among other things, the abuses in the church and to gain clarity about different beliefs. 

These are the must-see sights in Trento and other tips for Trento, especially in the winter months.

Duomo of Trento

Right in the center is the Duomo, also known as the San Vigiliocalled a cathedral.

The Dom was built between 1212 and 1515 and is characterized by different styles, but the interior is mainly Gothic.

If you want to get an impression, go to the website where you can view both the outside and the inside in 360°.

Beautiful is the rose window with the wheel of fortune. It is quite dark in the church, which creates a solemn atmosphere. Be sure to check out the Baroque altar, which was built on a model of St. Peter's Church in Rome.

On the square in front of the Duomo is the 10-meter high Neptune fountain, the Torre (tower) Civica and two houses from 1530 with beautifully preserved frescoes.

Be sure to look up! Not only on the square but also further into the city, on various buildings old frescoes can be seen.

Next to the Duomo in the Palazzo Pretorio it is Diocesan Museum housed where there is a permanent collection of paintings depicting the Council, manuscripts, tapestries and liturgical vestments, as well as changing exhibitions.

There are a few terraces on the square, a good one ice-cream shop and just around the corner a large pizzeria.

Castle of Buonconsiglio

Another important attraction is the Castle of Buonconsiglio, the castle of Trento. The bishops lived here from 1250 to 1803.

The castle consists of several buildings from different centuries; viz. the Castelvecchio, the medieval fortress from the 13^e century, the Torre Aquila (Eagle Tower) from the 14^e century and the Magno Palazzo from the 16^e century.

Here you can see beautiful frescoes by various Italian painters (including the Dossi brothers).

In the Torre Aquila the months of the year are painted on 12 frescoes showing how the nobility lived in harmony with nature and farmers (!).

Unfortunately, the fresco by March once lost in a fire, so only 11 remain.

Trento Sotteranea (Trento underground)

Under the Cesare Battisti Square can you see the ancient roman Tridentum attend. Here you can see about 1.700 m² of Roman city.

You walk on the old roads and see remnants of courtyards, houses, beautiful mosaic floors, the old sewage system and a well-preserved well.

Film footage illustrates what the city must have looked like in earlier times.

MUSE, Museo della Scienza (Science Museum)

MUSE Photo Studio is a bit reminiscent of NEMO in Amsterdam, it was designed by the same architect (Renzo Piano) and here too there is a lot of attention to discover things for yourself.

The museum is about alpine nature, about the geology of the alps, about sustainable development and nature conservation.

There is also a tropical greenhouse and a large dinosaur exhibition. There is an interactive exhibition about your senses especially for small children. In short, really a museum for all ages.

More information can be found at muse.it.

Le Gallery

If you are interested in the history of Trento and its surroundings, and if you want to visit a museum that is located in a special place, go to Le Gallery.

2 old highway tunnels in use until 2007 have been converted into 2 modern exhibition spaces; the Galleria Nerac (black tunnel) and the Gallery Bianca (white tunnel).

De Galleria Nerac is 300 meters long and here you can see photos and videos about the history of Trento and Trentino. In the Gallery Bianca temporary exhibitions are held.

The two tunnels are in the Piedicastello district, on the other side of the river, below DOS Trento, the mausoleum in memory of Cesare Battisti (an Italian patriot and politician, sentenced to death by the Austrians).

It is a half hour walk from the museum. The views along the way are very nice (in Piazza di Piedicastello, take a small road up between the houses).

Funicular (Funivia Sardagna)

At the edge of the center you will find a funicular – de Funivia Sardagna – which takes you in a few minutes to a viewpoint in the village of Sardagna, on top of the mountain.

Here you have a beautiful view over Trento, the mountains and the river Adige.

Christmas market

The Christmas market that takes place here every year from the end of November to the beginning of January is very nice and atmospheric.

This market is held in Piazza Fiera, next to the old city wall and in Piazza Cesare Battisti.

There are no fewer than 63 stalls where you can mainly view, admire and buy local products and where you can eat and drink something.

Go especially when it is dark in the late afternoon or early evening (the market closes at 19.00 or 19.30:XNUMX pm), Trento itself is also festively lit.

Le Feasts Vigiliana

On June 26 it is feast of San Vigilio, the patron saint of the city. In the days before that, there are already several festivities in the city.

For example, there is the historical parade in traditional clothing, the Palio of the Goose, a race with rafts on the river, there are also various concerts, theater performances and so on.

Gorge of Ponte Alto (Orrido di Ponte Alto)

A nice trip near Trento is the gorge of Ponte Alto. This is a deep gorge created by the river Fersina.

In the 16^e century, two weirs were built here to protect the city from flooding. Later energy was generated by means of a hydroelectric power station and Trento was one of the first cities in Europe to receive urban lighting.

The gorge can only be visited with a guided tour, these are also given in English. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes. And you get to see 2 beautiful waterfalls.

More information can be found at the special website or watch the video:

Travel to Trento

It is approximately 12 hours by car from Utrecht. You can also take the train via Duisburg and Munich, that journey takes about 13 hours and you have to change trains twice.

From April to October you can fly to Verona. From Verona it is with a rental car about an hour's drive.

There are also trains from Verona to Trento. If you fly to Venice or Milan (Linate or Bergamo), it is more than 2 hours away.

In winter you can also fly to Innsbruck in Austria and then drive for another 2 hours.

Staying in Trento

There are plenty of places to stay in Trento. A nice hotel on the edge of the center is Grand Hotel TrentoThe rooms are spacious and you get a full breakfast.

View Grand Hotel Trento or the other options for accommodation in Trento.

Gastronomy

There are plenty of restaurants. My personal favorite is The Hair, but also Antico Pozzo is definitely recommended. Slightly more expensive, but well worth it Augury with a nice collection of wines.

If you prefer to eat a schnitzel, that is also possible at restaurant Forsterbräu. Here you imagine yourself in the middle of Austria.