Arco Castle: Go For A Hike And Take In These Beautiful Views In Trentino

Trentino is a northern region of Italy, set amongst Alpine backdrops, lush valleys, rolling hills, wide pastures, and little villages that is, undoubtedly, utterly picturesque and completely lovely. However, there are particular corners of Trentino that are especially beautiful and magical and that should be sought out by anyone who has found a vacation rental in Trentino and is thinking about exploring the region. One of those little gems is Arco Castle, a romantic ruin that sits majestically atop a cliff and surveys the surrounding landscape. Come and stretch your legs by hiking to the castle, admire the incredible panoramic view from the top, and explore this stunningly lovely ruin.

Perched over the plain of the River Sacra, just at the point at which it widens, Arco Castle (Castello di Arco) dominates the skyline of the area and is an iconic structure in the landscape. It is the symbol of the town of Arco and a beloved memento of times past. While its exact origins are somewhat steeped in mystery, we know that it existed at least after the year 1000 AD. The area has been inhabited since before the Middle Ages and it is thought that the castle was originally built by the people, only to be later taken over by the local nobles.

In 1124, the first written mention of the Counts of Arco pops up in a deed. By 1349, the tide had turned against these nobles and the Counts of Arco were expelled by the Prince-Bishops of Trent, with the castle going to the Scaligers, who were a Veronese noble family. The local counts regained the castle in the 14th century but, by the 16th century it was recaptured and in the 17th century their estates were officially seized by Emperor Leopold. After a siege by French troops under General Duke Louis Joseph of Vendôme in during the War of Spanish Succession in 1703, the castle was abandoned and, eventually, fell to ruin. In 1986, the first restoration project to help preserve this architectural gem began and there have been several more campaigns to conserve the building have been undertaken in the years since.

If you have found a vacation rental in Trentino and you want to see this beauty for yourself, you need only make your way to the town of Arco. From there, there are several routes that one can take to hike up to the old ruins of the castle and the viewing platform that you will find there. The paths all leave the town and then you wind through the olive groves that blanket the hills leading up towards the castle perched high overhead, making the whole endeavour rather pleasant and scenic. Just look for the signs in town labelled “castello” and you’ll eventually be lead through the groves and towards the castle.

Once you reach the top, you will find an incredible view that extends are far as Lake Garda on a clear day. In addition, you will see the meadow and cypresses that lead to the castle and then the castle itself. Head to the Torre Grande (Big Tower) to pay the entrance fee and enter the castle and either explore yourself using the information panels or try to join a guided tour. Inside, you can visit the prisons, the large tower, the bastions and numerous rooms, as well as climb to the Torre Renghera, an upper tower that offers more great views towards Lake Garda, Monte Stivo, to the east, and Paganella, to the north. While at the summit, be sure to also check out the café and the boardwalk in tempered glass that juts out from the path for an even better view over the town below.

If you like getting outside, enjoying nature, stretching your legs, and taking in some history and culture, this incredible spot offers all of that and some of the most wonderfully scenic views in all of Italy!


Daily Opening Hours:

1st of March to the 31st of March – 10am to 5pm
1st of April to the 30th of September – 10am to 7pm
1st of October to the 31st of October – 10am to 5pm
2nd of November to the 6th of January – 10am to 4pm
7th of January to the 31st of January – 10am to 4pm (Only open on Saturdays and Sundays for this period)
1st of February to the 28th of February – 10am to 4pm
Closed on January 1st, November 1sth, December 25th, 26th, and the afternoon of the 24th afternoon and the 31st

Note: Last admission to the upper towers is one hour before closing.

Tickets (to enter castle):

Full price: €3.50
Reduced fee (for those 12-18 and over 60s): € 2.00