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When tourists plan a visit to Italy, Rome is likely to be at the top of their bucket list, especially if they haven’t been to the country before, and we can certainly understand why.
The Eternal City is famous for its boundless wonders, from the Colosseum to the Pantheon, but it can get excessively crowded, to the point you’ll find it hard not to brush shoulders with strangers while exploring its narrow alleys or take pictures without getting photobombed.
Plus, a Roman holiday usually comes at a hefty price, and not a reasonable one. The average room rate in Rome stands currently at $192, and that’s excluding daily expenses and a tourist tax: for a 7-night stay, you’ll be paying an additional $57.
Now, if you’re passionate about history, but Rome’s overtourism puts you off, there’s a hidden treasure up north that most foreigners don’t know about, and that will quench your thirst for the ancient:
Discover Trento, Northern Italy’s Hidden Cultural Gem
Tucked away in the cozy alpine North, a seriously underrated region we nodded to before, Trento is everything you’d hope an Italian getaway to be:
It has the uber-cute Old Town that looks like it’s barely seen any unwelcome modern upgrades since the High Middle Ages.
The hearty cuisine is an attraction in itself, and locals aren’t completely dismissive of Americans, as has become widely common in the heavily-touristed South.
It’s much smaller than Rome, too, with a population of only around 120,000 people, and all of the main attractions are cluttered into one small area, so you can see it all on foot, and without cramming too many sights into a single day.
Culturally and aesthetically, it’s set worlds apart from Rome in the sense that you won’t find the capital’s pastel-colored buildings and balmy temperatures here: these are the Italian Alps, after all.
Instead, you’ll be met with Austrian-influenced architecture, their typical somber tones, and a temperate climate halfway between Central Europe and the Mediterranean.
That being said, the ‘Italianness’ is undeniable:
What Sets Trento Apart From The Rest?
Originally built as a Celtic village, Trento was conquered by the Romans in the 1st century BC, when it was brought into the bygone’s sphere of influence, and re-founded as a Roman municipality by none other than legendary Julius Caesar himself.
Trento may not have a well-preserved gladiatorial arena or an intact Roman temple in the likeness of the Pantheon, but it does have numerous archeological findings that offer us a rare glimpse into life in Ancient Times.
Take the Roman Tridentum, for instance, the most historically-significant ruin in Trento, lying beneath the modern city, and a vast maze of underground roads lined with houses, surviving sections of walls, and city gates.
It can be accessed through the Diocesan Museum of Trento, located right on the main square (Piazza del Duomo), and a three-floor palace boasting a vast collection of art spanning at least 8 centuries.
Perched atop Doss Trento hill, you can also visit the remains of the Roman Amphitheater:
Though not perfectly preserved, it offers breathtaking views of the dome-dotted Trentino townscape, backdropped by the magnificent Alps.
A Picture-Perfect Medieval Old Town
Trento is so much more than its Roman past, and if you’re as enthusiastic about medieval heritage as you are about the Roman Empire, Piazza del Duomo is sure to take your breath away.
A medieval square and the heart of Trento since at least the 11th century, it features an ornate Neptune Fountain, with intricately carved mythological beings, and it’s home to a few of the city’s most important structures, including Trento Cathedral:
A Romanesque church with Renaissance elements, it has a stone-carved interior, with realistic sculptures and beautiful frescoes, and its Baroque altar and baldachin, though not directly involving the famous artist, were based on the works of Bernini.
Not far from the main square, Torre Civica is a 12th-century tower standing where a Roman gate would have once been, and a medieval prison now housing a museum, and if you walk down Via Belenzani, the timeless thoroughfare leading from Piazza del Duomo, you’ll happen upon a string of palaces:
Palazzo Municipale, Palazzo Thun, and the 15th-century Geremia House are all here, so you might as well go ahead and grab one of those Museum Passes from the local tourism office, for around $24.
The best part is, despite its Old World allure and rich culture, Trento receives only a small fraction of the mass tourism that’s blighted Southern Italy in recent years.
Where To Savor Trento’s Alpine Cuisine
With all that exploring, chances are you’ll be feeling a little peckish, and lucky you, one of Trento’s best-known restaurants is in the vicinity.
Bruschetteria Redoro Trento serves delicious bruschetta with generous toppings and delicious coffee for around $8, and if you’re craving alpine delicacies, with stews, bread dumplings and cheese platters all in the mix, look no further than Al Diciassette, an 18th-century style bistrot.
Meanwhile, Ristorante Antica Trattoria Due Mori is your local family-run trattoria for homemade Trentino pasta and pinot bianco harvested from alpine vineyards (considerably pricier than the Trento average, with meals here averaging $32-43, but oh, so worth it).
Finally, if it’s some good old Italian pizza you’ve got your heart set on, Pizzeria da Albert has a plethora of options ranging from only $10.88 to $17.41, and if you’re asking us what to pick, you just can’t go wrong with their cotto branchi sourdough.
Don’t forget to pair it with a glass of whatever homegrown red they have in store.
Where To Stay In Trento This Season
Looking for somewhere to stay, preferably central, within walking distance of all the most noteworthy sights and that, most importantly, will not break the bank?
A double room at Torrione Trento starts at $126-a-night this spring, or $63 per adult, whereas Grand Hotel Trento, on Piazza Dante, should run you up $83 individually—should we remind you how much a central room in Rome will cost you?
As for the best-reviewed accommodation, with the lowest price, Booking.com lists the privately-managed guesthouse Nine Rooms Shared: breakfast is served daily, Piazza del Duomo is a 10-12 minute walk from the property, and prices start at $60 per person.
Trento is somewhat more remote to reach than other Italian destinations, and that’s partly what it owes its unspoiled charm to.
You can’t fly there nonstop, so you’ll have to land first in Milan, Bergamo, Verona, or Venice, and then hop on a northbound train to Trento from those larger cities.
Those usually cost between $8-14, and there are multiple journeys scheduled every day.
Vinicius Costa
Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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