Trento

A Renaissance city in the Adige Valley: beyond Piazza del Duomo and the Castello del Buonconsiglio lie Lake Molveno, Riva on the northern shore of Lake Garda, and the Brenta Dolomites.

Trento is the capital of the autonomous province of Trentino in northern Italy, set midway along the Adige Valley, about 60 km south of Bolzano and 100 km north of Verona, on the ancient route from the Brenner Pass into Italy. The city is famous for the Council of Trent, held here in the 16th century, and its old town preserves a Romanesque cathedral, Renaissance palaces covered in frescoes and the prince-bishops' Castello del Buonconsiglio, along with MUSE, the science museum designed by Renzo Piano. Climate: summers are warm, with the valley floor topping 30°C, while the mountains stay cool; winters are cold with little snow in town, and the surrounding mountains host ski resorts. The best times to visit are Jun–Sep (lake swimming and hiking in the Brenta Dolomites) and December (Christmas markets and skiing); April's apple blossom in the Val di Non and the Sep–Oct grape and apple harvest are also lovely. Areas to explore: ① the old town, a half to full day on foot; ② Lake Levico and Lake Caldonazzo in the Valsugana to the east; ③ Lake Molveno, Lake Tovel, Paganella and the Brenta Dolomites, and Madonna di Campiglio to the northwest; ④ southwest via Lake Toblino to Riva, Arco, Lake Tenno and Lake Ledro on the northern shore of Lake Garda; ⑤ castles, sanctuaries and gorges in the Val di Non to the north; ⑥ the MART art museum and the Peace Bell in Rovereto to the south. Getting there: Trento station is on the Brenner railway, about 1 hour from Verona, 30 minutes from Bolzano and around 4 hours by direct train from Munich; the nearest airports are Verona and Venice. Intercity buses serve the lakes and valleys, but a car is the most flexible way to reach mountain sights, and the Trentino Guest Card gives free use of public transport across the province and free entry to most museums. Suggested stay: 1 day for the city, 3–5 days including the lakes and mountains. Note: parking at popular lakes is hard in summer, and access to Lake Tovel, the Val Genova and other spots is restricted; watch for afternoon thunderstorms when hiking at altitude, and most cable cars run from late June to September.

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Itineraries