Castello del Buonconsiglio

About the museum

The Castello del Buonconsiglio stands on a rocky hill on the edge of Trento's historic centre. A fortress from the mid-13th century, it was the residence of the prince-bishops of Trento until the Napoleonic era; it later served as a barracks and today houses the museum. Its oldest nucleus is Castelvecchio, built against the city walls and gradually transformed from a defensive structure into an elegant residence. Around 1400 the prince-bishop Georg von Liechtenstein had the Cycle of the Months frescoed in the Torre Aquila, a masterpiece of International Gothic.

From 1528 the prince-bishop Bernardo Cles had the Magno Palazzo built beside Castelvecchio, a Renaissance residence decorated by artists such as Dosso and Battista Dossi, Girolamo Romanino and Marcello Fogolino. In 1686 the prince-bishop Francesco Alberti Poja had the Giunta Albertiana built, a Baroque block linking Castelvecchio to the Magno Palazzo, with stuccoed halls dedicated to the Ottoman advance and the siege of Vienna.

In 1916 the castle, then an Austrian barracks, was the scene of the trial and execution of the irredentists Cesare Battisti, Fabio Filzi and Damiano Chiesa. Acquired by the Italian State in 1918, it passed to the Autonomous Province of Trento in 1974. The art and archaeology collections, with almost 70,000 works from prehistory to the first half of the 19th century, were formed in the 19th century within the Museo Civico di Trento. Today the museum comprises, besides the Trento seat, Castel Thun, Castel Beseno, Castel Stenico and Castel Caldes, each of which has its own visiting site.

Highlights

• Torre Aquila with the Cycle of the Months, a fresco of International Gothic
• Renaissance Magno Palazzo of the prince-bishop Bernardo Cles
• Baroque halls of the Giunta Albertiana with stuccoes and paintings by Giuseppe Alberti
• Castelvecchio, the oldest nucleus of the castle, with the Venetian loggia
• Collections of archaeology, painting, sculpture, applied arts and historical photography
• Multisensory model and visit app with accessible itineraries

Permanent exhibitions

• Castelvecchio e Magno Palazzo – The medieval nucleus of the prince-bishops and Bernardo Cles's Renaissance residence, with frescoed rooms and the art and archaeology collections.
• Giunta Albertiana – Baroque halls on the first floor, with stuccoes and paintings by Giuseppe Alberti dedicated to the Ottoman advance and the siege of Vienna.
• Torre Aquila e Ciclo dei Mesi – Ancient city tower with the famous International Gothic fresco cycle, visitable at fixed times with an additional ticket.

Operated by

Provincia autonoma di Trento

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every first Sunday of the month from October to March (“Domenica al museo”), for all visitors.

The ticket includes the castle rooms, the permanent exhibitions, the temporary exhibitions and the gardens, and can be used at different times of the day; it does not include Torre Aquila. A ticket once purchased cannot be changed or refunded. Free admission also for teachers accompanying school groups, cultural heritage professionals with a card, licensed tourist guides on duty and Italians resident abroad registered with the AIRE of the Trentino municipalities. The Trentino Guest Card gives a 30% discount; the Lasciapassare dei Castelli and the Membership Card (from €20) allow free admission for one year.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description

The castle has architectural barriers and no lifts, except those for the Sala del Buonconsiglio and the Sala Gerola. The gardens, the library and the café can also be reached by wheelchair via the ramp at the Porta San Martino; from the café lift the frescoes of the Refettorio Clesiano can be admired. At the start of the route there are a multisensory model with tactile tiles and a subtitled LIS video; the visit app offers itineraries with audio description and LIS videos. There are materials in Easy to Read and AAC. It is advisable to contact the Educational Services (0461 492811, education@buonconsiglio.it) to arrange access. Guide dogs are always admitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The Family Space has a breastfeeding corner and a play and relaxation corner for the youngest; family toilets have a changing table. The museum offers themed routes, explorations and workshops for families, also self-guided, and a family itinerary with animations in the visit app. Pushchairs cannot be taken into the rooms: they can be left in storage at the entrance of the first room of the route, and are allowed in the gardens. Activity bookings: 0461 492811.

Getting there & parking

The castle is in the historic centre of Trento, at Via Bernardo Clesio 5. By car: A22 motorway, exit Trento nord or Trento sud, or state roads 12, 47 and 45 bis. Nearest airports: Verona (90 km), Treviso (130 km), Venice (155 km).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Café open all year during museum hours, and bookshop at the end of the route. Two rooms with keyed lockers at the entrance of the first room of the route. Free Wi-Fi (Trentino Wi-Fi network, registration with e-mail) for up to two hours, with coverage not guaranteed everywhere.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The spaces of the Castello del Buonconsiglio, Castel Beseno, Castel Thun, Castel Stenico and Castel Caldes are available for press conferences, gala dinners, and film and photo shoots; requests are made via the online form and the price list published on the website.

Plan your visit