Trentino is not only mountains and lakes. It is also a land of great museums, able to tell the story of science, art and history with a modern, well-crafted language. There are museums designed by famous architects, art houses created by the artists themselves, castles full of frescoes and prehistoric villages rebuilt by the lake. They are perfect destinations for a rainy day, for those travelling with children, or simply for anyone who loves culture. In this guide we take you to discover the finest museums in Trentino, telling you what makes each one special. We at Italy Holiday have welcomed guests to this land for a long time, and these are the museums we would recommend to a friend on their way here.

1. MUSE, the science museum in Trento

The MUSE is the Science Museum of Trento, and it is the most visited and most loved museum in Trentino. The building was designed by the architect Renzo Piano and echoes the profile of the mountains, with sloping roofs and large windows that let the light in. It rises over several floors, each devoted to a different theme: from the high mountains and the glaciers you descend to the origins of life, to biodiversity and to sustainability.

Inside you will find a large tropical greenhouse that recreates a patch of rainforest, a rich collection of dinosaur fossils and many interactive installations to learn while playing. It is a museum truly designed for everyone, and especially for families with children, who here can touch, experiment and have fun. It stands in the Le Albere district, a few minutes from the centre of Trento. Check the current opening times on the official website.

2. Castello del Buonconsiglio, the historic heart of Trento

The Castello del Buonconsiglio is the largest monumental complex in Trentino and for centuries it was the residence of the prince-bishops of Trento. It is a group of buildings from different eras, from the medieval core of Castelvecchio to the Renaissance Magno Palazzo, gathered around courtyards and walkways. Today it houses the museum's art and archaeology collections, among frescoes, paintings and ancient codices.

Its most precious treasure is found in the Torre Aquila: it is the Cycle of the Months, a series of frescoes showing the passing of the seasons, the work of the peasants and the pastimes of the nobles. Painted around 1400, it is considered one of the masterpieces of International Gothic and one of the rarest images of everyday medieval life. The castle stands in the centre of Trento, a short walk from the Cathedral. Check the current opening times on the official website.

3. Gianni Caproni Aviation Museum, in Trento

Near the airport of Trento, in Mattarello, there is a truly unique museum. The Gianni Caproni Aviation Museum is the oldest aviation museum in the world: it was founded in 1927 by the engineer and flight pioneer Gianni Caproni together with his wife Timina Guasti, to preserve the memory of their production and of the history of Italian aviation.

In the large exhibition hall around twenty historic aircraft are lined up, many of them dating to the early days of flight, and some are rare pieces or unique in the world. Alongside the aircraft you will also find an art gallery dedicated to flight, with works linked to Futurism. It is a visit that fascinates aircraft enthusiasts but also children, drawn to the great machines suspended overhead. Check the current opening times on the official website.

4. MART, the great modern art museum in Rovereto

The MART is the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto, and its main venue in Rovereto is one of the most important in Italy for twentieth-century art. The building was designed by the architect Mario Botta: its most recognisable feature is a large glass and steel dome rising above a circular piazza, a declared homage to the Pantheon in Rome.

The collections gather around twenty thousand works, from the nineteenth century to the present day, with a particularly rich section devoted to Futurism and to artists such as Giorgio de Chirico, Carlo Carra and the Rovereto-born Fortunato Depero. Throughout the year the museum also hosts major temporary exhibitions of international standing. It stands in the centre of Rovereto, easy to reach on foot. Check the current opening times on the official website.

5. Casa d'arte futurista Depero, in Rovereto

A few minutes' walk from the MART, in the historic centre of Rovereto, stands the Casa d'arte futurista Depero. It is a special museum, because it is the only one in Italy founded by a Futurist artist: Fortunato Depero created it in 1957, personally designing every detail, from the mosaics to the furniture to the painted panels.

Inside you will find a joyful, colourful world, made of paintings, drawings, toys, furniture and the famous hand-sewn fabric tapestries. Depero combined art, design and advertising, and here you really sense how modern his vision was. It is a cheerful, unconventional place, enjoyed even by those who do not usually love art museums. Today it is part of the MART. Check the current opening times on the official website.

6. Italian Historical War Museum, in the castle of Rovereto

Inside the ancient medieval castle of Rovereto is the Italian Historical War Museum, one of the main Italian museums dedicated to the First World War. Opened in 1921, it tells the story of the conflict that deeply marked these valleys through uniforms, weapons, photographs, letters and everyday objects from trench life.

One of the most striking parts is the artillery section, housed in tunnels dug at the base of the castle, where cannons and mortars of different armies are displayed. Climbing the towers and walking the ramparts you also enjoy a fine view over Rovereto and the Vallagarina valley. It is a visit that combines history, architecture and memory. Check the current opening times on the official website.

7. Pile-Dwelling Museum of Lake Ledro

On the shores of Lake Ledro, in Molina di Ledro, there is a museum that takes you back thousands of years. The Pile-Dwelling Museum tells the story of a Bronze Age village, discovered when the level of the lake was lowered and thousands of ancient wooden poles driven into the lakebed re-emerged. The site is part of the prehistoric pile-dwelling sites of the Alpine arc, recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Inside the museum the original finds recovered from the lakebed are displayed, while on the shore some pile-dwelling huts have been rebuilt, complete with furnishings and everyday objects. It is a vivid, concrete way to understand how people lived here four thousand years ago, much appreciated by families. Check the current opening times on the official website.

8. Civic Museum of Rovereto, among dinosaurs and stars

The Civic Museum of Rovereto is one of the oldest museums in Italy: it was founded in 1851 by a group of scholars and citizens to preserve and enhance the city's heritage. Today it gathers very varied collections, ranging from archaeology to zoology, from botany to minerals, with a large section devoted to fossils and dinosaurs.

Among the most spectacular pieces are the dinosaur footprints of the Lavini di Marco, one of the most important sites in Europe, and the skeleton of a great cave bear. The museum also houses a planetarium, where an immersive show takes visitors on a journey among the stars. It is a perfect destination for a family day, especially when the weather is not on your side. Check the current opening times on the official website.

Where to stay for a weekend among the museums of Trentino

If you look at the map of these museums, you notice that they are concentrated mostly in two nearby cities: Trento and Rovereto. In Trento you find the MUSE, the Castello del Buonconsiglio and the Caproni Museum; in Rovereto, about twenty minutes by train or car further south, there are the MART, the Casa Depero and the War Museum. With a base in this area you can spend a whole weekend among science, art and history without travelling far.

From here the other museums also remain within reach of a nice day trip. The lake area of the Valsugana, around Caldonazzo, Levico and Calceranica, is about half an hour from Trento and combines museums with a lakeside holiday. The Pile-Dwelling Museum of Ledro is reached in a little over an hour, towards Lake Garda. And if you love the mountains, the Val di Sole and the Val Rendena are ideal bases for the Dolomites, with the city museums about an hour and a half away, perfect for a rainy day.

We at Italy Holiday welcome guests in these very areas, in homes designed to make you feel at home from the very first moment. If you dream of a weekend among the finest museums in Trentino, discover where to stay near Trento, Rovereto and the lakes of the Valsugana and pack your bags: the museums of Trentino are waiting for you.