Trento

The regional county seat of Trentino with its 118,200 inhabitants looks back on an eventful past. Originally founded by the Celts, it was later conquered by the Romans and named "Tridentum". In 1004 the then Emperor Enrico II gave the power to the bishopric who, despite several uprisings, ruled until the arrival of the Napoleonic troops in 1796. When the city became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire the construction of several infrastructures for the regulation of the Adige river, as well as the Brennero railway line, played a significant role in the modernisation and development of the city. By 1948 Trento obtained its special autonomy and became an important administrative and commercial centre. The renowned University of Trento is highly appreciated both for the education it provides and for its research studies.

While walking through the city's historic centre you will certainly notice all the frescoes decorating several noble residences which portray the history of Trento through mythological figures. Salient scenes, such as the trip to Rome of the germanic emperors, the Council of Trento in 1545, the bishopric which dominated the valley for centuries and more can be recognised at a closer look.

However, its monuments, noble residences and historic castles are not the only strong suit of this city. Its cheerful ambiance, culture and typical local cuisine are worth looking into thoroughly. Unfortunately many tourists rush to the mountains and miss out on the hidden treasures of Trento which of course require a good amount of time to be discovered in all their facets. As the city boasts a huge variety of museums, we mention only some of them below but please consider that this list is far from being complete: Castello del Buonconsiglio, the S. Maria Maggiore church, Piazza del Duomo with the St. Vigilius Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Vigilio), Palazzo Pretorio, the Fountain of Neptune, the St. Appollinare church, the St. Lorenzo church, the monument dedicated to Dante Alighieri (one of the most important Italian authors in history), the Tridentine Diocesan Museum (Museo Diocesano Tridentino), the Natural Science museum (Museo delle Scienze Naturali), the Aeronautics Museum "Gianni Caproni", the National History Museum of Alpine Soldiers and many more.

In recent years the historic centre and several monuments have undergone renovation works as both local municipalities and associations began to recognise their value. Furthermore, they breathed new life into the city by enhancing its appeal and by celebrating its uniqueness. A full event calender of annually recurring events completes the city's cultural offer, including the "Autunno Trentino", a feast devoted to wine, cured meats, cheese and other typical products of the local cuisine, traditional fairs such as the St. Giuseppe fair in spring and the St. Lucia fair in December, the Trento Economy Festival, the international Trento Film Festival and many more. Otherwise you can spend your evenings attending concerts by local music groups and choirs or theatre performances. Commercial and farmer's markets are held all year round, whereas the traditional Christmas market is a special event you shouldn't miss. During the annually held "Fiori al Centro" the city turns into a sea of colourful, sweet-smelling flowers.