Top of the World
Castel Beseno is an impressive fortress that occupies the top of an entire hill, in a dominant position over the Adige Valley. The castle can be reached from Besenello, halfway between Trento and Rovereto, and today is the venue for cultural events and historical re-enactments. It is the largest ancient fortress in Trentino, thanks also to its imposing bastions that date back to the sixteenth century, when the castle was reinforced in order to resist the sieges of armies equipped with firearms. It is located about twenty minutes by car from Trento, on top of a hill in the Adige valley. Visiting Castel Beseno means experiencing first-hand the life that was led in a sixteenth-century castle: courtyards, halls with ancient traces of frescoes, buildings that were once used as kitchens, bread ovens, cellars and a complex system of walkways along the walls (open to the public) that offers exciting panoramic views of the Adige Valley and the valley leading to the plateau of Folgaria. Castel Beseno is a fundamental stop for those who love history. Within the walls of Castel Beseno, in the fourteenth-century Palazzo di Marcabruno, you can visit a permanent exhibition that recounts the Battle of Calliano, fought on August 10, 1487, when the plain below the castle was the scene of an epic battle: the Tyrolean troops on that occasion repelled the attack of the armies of the Republic of Venice, which wanted to expand towards Trento. On display is also a rich collection of original weapons and faithful copies, under the banner of... "Please touch": everyone is invited to wear and handle helmets, shields and armour, to dress up (in every sense) as ancient warriors. The castle hosts events and historical re-enactments throughout the year, especially in summer.
