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BaitoneAlpino Suggests: Castello del Buonconsiglio

Castello del Buonconsiglio is one of Trento's most famous buildings and one of the largest monumental complexes in Trentino-Alto Adige, thanks to its beauty and its history linked to the Council of Trent. Residence of the Prince-Bishops of Trento from the 13th century until the end of the 18th century, it comprises a series of buildings from different periods, enclosed within a wall on a slightly elevated position above the city. Castelvecchio is the oldest part, dominated by a mighty cylindrical tower; at the southern end of the complex is Torre Aquila, which houses the famous Cycle of the Months, one of the most notable secular pictorial cycles of the late Italian Middle Ages. The Magno Palazzo is the 16th-century extension in the Italian Renaissance style, commissioned by Prince-Bishop and Cardinal Bernardo Clesio (1485-1539); it houses an important Mannerist pictorial cycle in excellent condition. The Baroque Giunta Albertina dates back to the late 17th century. Today, the castle's various rooms house the provincial art collections, divided into sections on archaeology, ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary art. The Buonconsiglio complex itself took the official name of Castello del Buonconsiglio in 1992 and forms a network of art exhibitions spanning much of Trentino. The castle is part of the Buonconsiglio museum network, which includes Castello del Buonconsiglio in Trento, Castel Stenico in the Giudicarie area, Castel Beseno in Besenello, Castel Thun in the Val di Non, and Castel Caldes in the Val di Sole. Tickets are available for €20, which grants access to all five castles. If you visit all five, you'll receive a small gift!