The Buonconsiglio Castle rises up on the rocky outcrop in Trento. It’s considered one of the most important non-religious monuments in the province. Built between 1239 and 1255, this was the residence of the prince bishops until the secularization of the episcopate in 1803.
This fascinating architectural piece is composed of a series of buildings from different eras and styles, surrounded by an imposing 16th century wall. The wall is held up by large, cylindrical bastions that hide a charming Italian garden within. The Augustus tower rises up above the castle, and it can be accessed from the internal courtyard of the medieval Castelvecchio, notable also for its Venetian gothic arches. Since 1973, visitors can tour the castle and local art collection housed within, known as the “Castello del Buonconsiglio, monumenti e collezioni provinciali.”
There are numerous collections of art, paintings, sculptures, graphic works, illuminated manuscripts, majolica stoves, archeological and numismatic remains. Particularly noteworthy among the Baroque and Gothic frescoes is the Ciclo dei Mesi, considered one of the most important examples of International Gothic art.
