Buonconsiglio Castle, Trento

The Buonconsiglio Castle is the largest and most important monumental complex in the Trentino Alto Adige region. From the 13th century until the end of the 18th century, it was the residence of the prince-bishops of Trento. It consists of a series of buildings from different eras, enclosed within a wall in a slightly elevated position compared to the city. Castelvecchio is the oldest core, dominated by a massive cylindrical tower; the Magno Palazzo is the 16th-century Renaissance expansion, commissioned by the prince-bishop and cardinal Bernardo Cles (1485-1539); the Baroque Albertian Addition dates back to the late 17th century. At the southern end of the complex stands Torre Aquila, which houses the famous Cycle of the Months, one of the most fascinating secular painting cycles of the late Middle Ages.

Especially due to the presence of extensive fresco cycles, the interior decorative apparatus is of extraordinary interest, created mainly by the bishops during the late medieval and Renaissance periods. After the end of the prince-bishopric (1803), the castle was used as a barracks; later restored, in 1924 it became the site of the National Museum and since 1973 it has belonged to the Autonomous Province of Trento. It currently serves as the main hub of a museum system made up of five castles, among the most charming and prestigious in the Trentino territory: the Castle of Stenico in the Giudicarie Valleys, Castel Beseno in the Adige Valley between Trento and Rovereto, Castel Thun in the Non Valley, and Castel Caldes in the Sole Valley.