The 10 Best Things to do in Trento, Italy
Trento is a city on the Adige River in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol in Italy. It is the capital of the autonomous province of Trento.
Formerly part of Austria and Austria-Hungary, it was annexed by Italy in 1919. With 120,709 inhabitants, Trento is the third largest city in the Alps and second largest in the Tyrol.
The city contains a picturesque Medieval and Renaissance historic centre, with ancient buildings such as Trento Cathedral and the Castello del Buonconsiglio.
This photo depicts the main square. The center of Trento. Or at least it was to me during my time in this absolutely stunning little town in northern Italy. In the middle of the piazza is Neptune fountain, a great meet-up point and place to eat some of the world famous gelato found all over Italy.
Fun fact: Trento is also one of the nation’s wealthiest and most prosperous cities, with its province being one of the richest in Italy.
The Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is an important place of worship in the city of Trento, and the site of the Third Session of the Council of Trent. It’s a beautiful piece of architecture inside & outside. Even if you’re not a fan of churches, it’s definitely worth a stop or walk through.
Doss Trento is the name for the hill overlooking the city. It’s a fun and relatively easy walk with a park at the top and a monument to Cesar Battisti which is visible from every corner of the city.
The Cathedral of San Vigilio – the Duomo di Trento – was erected on an area which housed an ancient temple dedicated to the city’s Patron Saint. It sit on the outskirts of the main Piazza. Behind the church a weekly street market often pops up.
IT’S A LEGIT CASTLE PEOPLE. one of the reasons I’m so enthralled by Italy in particular is the rich amount of history and the architecture. The Buonconsiglio Castle is the largest and most important castle in the Trentino Alto Adige region. It’s open to the public for exploring and provides some amazing views of the city.
A science museum on the outskirts of Trento. This museum is situated on a sweeping lawn beside the University of Trento library. The museum itself is a beautiful building. Inside, you can find a number of interactive science exhibits. Museum exhibits use the metaphor of the mountain to describe life on Earth. You start from the top: the terrace and the 4th floor allow us to encounter the sun and ice; from there, you descend to investigate the issues of biodiversity, sustainability, and evolution, until you reach the basement and the wonders of the tropical greenhouse.
THE FOOD. It’s amazing. Some of the best food I’ve ever had. There is an extremely wide variety of food in this small town. From delicious pizzas to amazing sushi you can truly find everything. Some of my favorite places included:
- ForsterBrau Trento – Leaning into the Austrain heritage you’ll find more Germanic & Austrian fare here.
- Pizzeria da Albert – Most popular pizza joint in Trento. There was always a wait.
- Uva e Menta – Seriously delicious pizza.
- Urban Coffee Lab – modeled after an American coffee shop I came here when I felt homesick.
- Bar Fiorentina – A classier joint with traditional Italian fare.
- Pizza Cavour – the cheapest but best pizza you’ll find.
The cable car at the edge of town will take you up the mountain to the quaint little town of Sardagna.
The town is set atop the beginnings of the Italian Dolomites & definitely worth a visit….as long as you’re not afraid of heights.!
Hugo is a cocktail pleasing to the eye, fresh, light and fragrant: the perfect drink for the summer.
At the base of the cocktail, elderflower syrup, derived from an ancient recipe from Trentino, the ideal aroma for drinks and appetizers.
In the processing of elderflower nothing is left to the chance, especially at harvest. The best product you get in the late spring (may – june), avoiding hours of the morning, when the flowers are still closed, and the late afternoon, when the flowers could be too dry.
Hugo can by modified by adding a slice of green apple or green apple syrup, another product of Trentino, rediscovered as a new ingredient of the Spritz.
An aperitivo is a pre-meal drink; the experience of aperitivo is a cultural ritual.
Derived from the Latin aperire, the tradition is meant “to open” the stomach before dining. Accordingly, for centuries Italians have said cheers – cin cin – over drinks and appetizers in the early evening hours between work and dinner.
Traditionally, an aperitivo is a carbonated, bitter, and low-alcohol beverage, such as the Aperol spritz, which is made with Prosecco, Aperol, and a spritz of sparkling mineral water.
Trento is a college town. And with college towns comes a fair amount of nightlife if you’re interested in that sort of thing. A lot of the “bar” restaurants turn into true bars after the dinner hour is over. Everything happens later in Italy, so don’t expect the party to really get started until after at least 11 pm.
And while you’re at it head to Bar Baccus to give absinthe a try!
