Italy: Trento

April 2017

After a great time in Bolzano, I stopped in Trent on the way back to Verona. The train ride between the two cities was breathtaking. The only thing I knew about Trent was the famous "Council of Trent". As it turns out, the city has a long history and it capitalizes on that important meeting that helped define the future of the Catholic Church. In fact, the "Council of Trent" was not just one meeting but a series of them (not all being held in Trent).

The town has a lovely old section and a beautiful castle. However, most importantly, Trent enjoys a perfect setting in the mountains. With a backdrop of the Dolomites, Trento is an amazing place to visit only a short train ride from Verona, located on the edge of the Po River plain. The city is yet another place I wish to take an in-depth tour (the place's history would take many days to cover) - Trento warrants a return visit to learn more.

The most southern outpost of "German" Italy, soon after (heading south) everything turns purely Italian. Südtirol is one of my favorite regions of Europe. The intersection of Germanic and Latin Europe, it has the best of both influences. If it weren't for the harsh winters, I think it would make a great place to retire.

In an ironic side note, Asian University for Women has a relationship with University of Trento and it regularly sends both staff and students there. For my colleagues from Bangladesh who travelled there, I cannot think of any place more "opposite" from Chittagong than Trento. Notably, most of those who did the staff training there came back only saying, "it was nice" (read: they didn't like it).

Maybe it was just too overwhelming?