Trento

In Trento you will find the most important monumental complex in the region, the Buonconsiglio Castle, developed over the centuries from a 13th-century fortress built for controlling communications with the German world. Its leading role as the seat of the prince-bishops had lasted until 1803, the year of the suppression of the bishopric under the Napoleonic revolutionary wave. Today, it can be visited like a museum among archaeological collections, tiled stoves, late-mediaeval wooden sculptures and paintings by leading Renaissance artists, up to the patrol walkway leading to the Torre dell'Aquila. The latter is the most extraordinary room, with an incredible cycle of 14th-century frescoes that realistically depict the Months of the Year and represent an absolute masterpiece of late Gothic painting. Before arriving at the Torre dell'Aquila, you pass through other buildings. It starts with Castelvecchio, a 13th-century fortress built on the Torre d'Augusto which belonged to the city walls, the courtyard from the late 15th century with porticoes, frescoes and a panoramic loggia is spectacular. The visit continues in the Magno Palazzo, a renaissance celebration of the prince-bishop Bernardo Clesio, with frescoes by leading 16th century artists such as Dosso Dossi and Girolamo Romanino. From the entrance hall of the chapel, you exit into the green Leoni Courtyard, with the Romanino Loggia, the so-called artist of the frescoes. Also by Romanino are the decorations in the hallways of the kitchens and bathroom, up to the Great Hall on the second floor with a magnificent 16th-century fireplace and the Prince-Bishop's private flat. A staircase descends to the very pleasant Italian garden: its geometric designs are repeated throughout the labyrinth just below the Castle next to Via San Marco, a viaticum to the rest of Trento.

The Hidden City Stroll through two thousand years of history hidden in a place of great charm, in an ancient underground Roman neighbourhood. All this is possible at the S.A.S.S., the Underground Archaeological Space of the SAS. The archaeological area extends for 1700 square metres below the road system of Trento. It all began in the '90s, with the restoration work of the Teatro Sociale in Trento that brought to light the remains of the ancient Tridentum. Streets, houses, splendid mosaics, the remnants of a tower and the sewerage network, a stretch of the wall that embraced the city to the east and a glassmaker's workshop. Among the wonders of the S.A.S.S. there is also an ancient underfloor heating system that will leave you speechless. Reach the ancient Tridentum through the entrance to Piazza Cesare Battisti and take part in guided tours, educational events, shows and conferences in a location that is evocative, to say the least. Do not miss the video "Dentro Trento", which will take you on a journey through time, retracing the history of the city from its first urban elements to how we see it today.

For those arriving from the north, Trento is one of the gateways to Italy. Strolling through its streets, one breathes a special atmosphere, suspended between a proudly asserted Italian character and the historical Germanic influence. A place of encounter and clashes, between pilgrims on the Germanic route, armies of mercenaries conquering the Belpaese, and artists travelling on the Gran Tour, with its monuments, history and striking natural setting in which it is immersed, the city provides plenty of ideas for a weekend of culture and entertainment.

The guardian of the artistic heritage of Trento It is also worth a visit for the beauty of its location and surroundings. The Tridentine Diocesan Museum occupies the halls of the wonderful Palazzo Pretorio, the first bishop's residence in Trento that dominates the central Piazza Duomo, next to the Cathedral of San Vigilio. The Palace, with its 45-metre high Civic Tower, its crenellated walls and its facades lightened by mullioned windows and triple lancet windows, will enchant you. But it is inside that you will find the real treasures. The Tridentine Diocesan Museum, founded in 1903, stands on the remains of an ancient early Christian basilica and houses artistic masterpieces from the 11th to the 19th century. Paintings, wooden sculptures, Flemish tapestries, embroidery, goldsmithing, local artistic production, vestments and illuminated codes, but also the treasures of the Cathedral with the processional urn of St Vigil and precious testimonies of the Council of Trent. Walking through its halls means taking a journey through the religious, cultural and artistic traditions of Trento. After the visit to the Palazzo Pretorio, do not miss the other attractions included in the Museum: the Civic Tower or Piazza Tower, the early Christian Basilica of St Vigil, the Porta Veronensis and the Villa Lagarina inside Palazzo Libera. Porta Veronensis and Villa Lagarina are temporarily inaccessible to the public.

An immersive journey into nature From dinosaurs to prehistoric humans, from pristine views to the most revolutionary technologies. Inside the MUSE science museum in Trento, you can explore nature from every angle. The Science Museum will strike you from the outside, thanks to its innovative forms that recall the shape of the Trentino mountains. The structure, opened to the public in 2013, bears the signature of the star architect Renzo Piano. Once you enter, you will find yourself catapulted into a path where the visitor is the absolute protagonist: you can experience what you are learning firsthand, through interactive games and immersive environments. The permanent exhibition demonstrates all the facets of life on Earth, with the aim - ambitious but essential - of building a better future for the planet and its inhabitants. Not surprisingly, the same building is built respecting eco-sustainability criteria, with natural materials and using renewable energy sources. The proposed routes are suitable for all age groups. Dedicated to the littlest visitors (0-5 years), there is the Maxi Ooh!, an exhibition and sensory space tailored to children. Do not miss the FabLab, a real "workshop of ideas", and the tropical greenhouse, where in an instant you will be transported from the landscapes of the alpine arc to the tropical ones of Tanzania.

Mart of Trento and Rovereto One of the most important modern and contemporary art museums in Italy include around 20,000 works of art ranging from the nineteenth century to contemporary art, including Futurism, the Novecento Italiano, Abstractionism, Informal Art, Arte Povera, and Transavanguardia up to the most recent artistic research. The Museum of Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto (MART), located in Rovereto in the fascinating Trentino, is a place of excellence for contemporary art and a special place where you can admire beautiful masterpieces by Italian artists such as De Chirico, Carrà, Burri, and by foreign artists such as Kandinsky and Beuys. Founded in 1987 as an institution of the Autonomous Province of Trento and was initially headquartered in the Palazzo delle Albere in Trento. However the arrival of some works by Fortunato Depero and those coming from the Provincial Art Museum of Trento pushed the administration to enlarge the Museum and finally the Mart opened to the public in the new and current exhibition space in Rovereto in 2002. Today the Futurist art Casa Depero is also part of the Museum in Rovereto, and exhibits some of the most important works of the futurist artist Fortunato Depero. Mart's permanent collection includes approximately 20,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures and engravings, masterpieces selected from productions ranging from the late nineteenth century to contemporary art. Considerable space is devoted to twentieth century avant-garde, in particular to Futurism with paintings by Giacomo Balla, Umberto Boccioni, Alberto Savinio. Many works from the so-called Scuola di Piazza del Popolo, also known as the Scuola del pop romano, are also part of the permanent collection with important works by Mario Schifano and Tano Festa. Giorgio Morandi, Carla Accardi, Giorgio de Chirico, Carlo Carrà, Josef Albers and, indeed, Rovereto’s Fortunato Depero, are among the authors present with numerous masterpieces. It is important to emphasise that the Mart Permanent Collection changes its staging about every six months. Mart often hosts temporary exhibitions with themes ranging from architecture to avant-garde movements of the twentieth century and applied arts. Often Mart is also home to more than ten exhibitions a year that attract a large public. Among the authors on display in recent years: Álvaro Siza, Tullio Pericoli, Luigi Senesi, Mario Radice. The modern building that houses the museum was designed by architect Mario Botta and engineer Giulio Andreolli who mixed technical solutions with classic models, such as the large dome inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. The square under the dome in the centre of which there is a fountain should certainly be admired. The wall covering is also a link with tradition with its yellow stone of Vicenza, which recalls the one used by the great Venetian architect Andrea Palladio.