Some Local Trento Stuff...

Some people ask me, "What do you do day-to-day while Miles is at work?" Well, I decided to volunteer my English-teaching services to university students. I put up a notice at the University Language Center and got 3 people that way, 2 people who's notices I saw on the message board looking for an English teacher and 2 via word of mouth. Most are students looking to study abroad and need extra practice for the English exam required for foreign study. I just love it! It's wonderful meeting these motivated young people and I learn a little more about Italy, too.

So this, plus having Miles' colleagues over for dinner, wandering around this fun city, having visitors from abroad (and taking care of our home needs) keeps me out of trouble.

Two weekends ago, we spent time seeing some local Trento sites. On June 19, we got a Trento Card for Euro 10 and good for 24 hours which entitles you to see all the museums, go bike riding, take a cable car ride up the mountain, etc. Boy, did we get our money's worth!

We hopped on the rental bikes and took a nice hour ride along the river. After returning the bikes, we took the cable car up the mountain and looked at the view. Unfortunately, it started raining, so we couldn't do too much walking. Back down we went and walked to the Castello del Buonconsiglio, a 14th century castle where the bishop lived.

Castello del Buonconsiglio, about 10 minutes from our apartment

We just loved it. We walked all around and took a special tour of the Eagle Tower which has frescos inside depicting the 4 seasons. No pictures were allowed here, unfortunately.

Beautiful Renaissance architecture

Interior ceiling with paintings of philosophers

View of the gardens from the tower

This was also the first weekend of the Feste Vigiliane, an annual June celebration honoring the patron saint of Trento, St. Vigiliane. The festival is 7 days, split over 2 long weekends. There were many activities including Medieval parades with costumed revelers, music, food/craft stalls and performances of many kinds. The first weekend was rainy and here's a picture of some drenched musicians:

Medieval drummers

On June 20, we used the remaining time with our Trento Card to hit 5 museums: one with many centuries of religious paintings, one with an underground Roman city, a science museum, a modern art museum and a gallery in a tower. Not only were the exhibits very interesting, but the buildings they are housed in are works of art themselves. There are many 300-400-year-old buildings here that have been beautifully restored to house museums. Just walking around inside and seeing frescos is so enchanting.

The next weekend was very sunny and we first took the cable car again and walked around some hill top villages.

View of Trento from the top of the cable car

After returning to the river, we walked up to a WWI memorial which is really a mausoleum for a WWI soldier.

Mausoleo Ceasare Battisti

The next day was sunnier still and we took a train to Lago di Levico, about 40 minutes east of Trento. We enjoyed walking around the lake and seeing all the families on a summer day. There's not much to do here except...relax. Ahhh...

Lago di Levico

One fearless swimmer cooling off