Trento: between history and mythology

The original name of the north Italian city of Trento is Tridentum, which literally means "three teeth". It conjures the image of the water god Neptune and his three toothed trident, but this town is far from the sea. Instead Trento can be found tightly tied to the mountains, the base of its touristic appeal.

It's likely the ancient three-tooth reference is to the three hills around the city. And in this overlap lies the peculiarity of Trento, a city that has accommodated many architectural styles and rulers, but also rituals, symbols and religious trends. This interwoven mix is most evident when standing before the Piazza del Duomo, where the proud mythological figure of Neptune rises above the town's celebrated fountain.

It's curious to think that this city, host to the most famous Council of the Catholic Church, the council moved to counter Martin Luther's theories, has the symbol of a pagan god right in front of its main cathedral.

In reality, Neptune's fountain was built in the illuminist era and is a symbol of the ideological and cultural renewal that took hold of the whole city.
Strolling through the Piazza Duomo another fountain inevitably catches the eye. The Fontana dell'Aquila represents the mountain essence of Trento. The eagle, aquila, is the other historic symbol of the city and the regal predator graces Trento's coat of arms.

A multitude of those illustrious churchmen were hosted in the town's 13th century fort, the Castle of Buonconsiglio, and close by Aquila Tower is a true gem. Inside the tower's walls a series of frescoes depict daily life in the 1300s. From the clothes, professions and daily activity, the paintings constitute a monthly narrative, with the exception of March, unfortunately lost over time.

Despite the absence of March in its fresco, Trento has thankfully never lost its inviting spring feel. A visit to Trento and her vales, when a still shy sun warms the air, is surely the perfect way to begin a holiday in Trentino-Alto Adige.