Perched on a rocky outcrop guarding the medieval village of Tenno, Trentino, Tenno Castle is one of the oldest and most fascinating fortified complexes in the Upper Garda area. Its documented origins date back to 1210-1211, when it passed from the Counts of Appiano to the powerful Tridentine bishop Federico Vanga. However, its foundation is even older, probably from Roman times, and for centuries it was the scene of clashes, sieges and unstable alliances.
Its strategic location, along the road connecting Lake Garda to the Giudicarie Valleys, made it a contested garrison. In the 15th century it was involved in clashes between the troops of the Serenissima and those of the Tyrol, becoming a base of operations for the Tyrolean armies during the taking of Riva by the Venetians. Famous commanders such as Gattamelata, Sforza, and Piccinino passed through during that period.
Unlike other castles in the area, Tenno was never granted a fiefdom, always remaining under direct control of the bishopric of Trent, which gradually transformed it from a military garrison to a noble residence. However, after centuries of prestige, the castle experienced a slow decline: sacked by General Vendôme’s French troops in 1703, it gradually lost its role and was purchased by private individuals in 1807.
The central tower, once 48 meters high and visible from all over the Upper Garda, was severely damaged during World War I and finally collapsed in 1920; the ruins were demolished in 1922 for safety reasons. Today the castle still retains significant sections of the wall with Guelph battlements and the baronial palace within the second defensive ring.
Tenno Castle is now a private residence and is not open to the public, but it remains one of the symbols of the village of the same name, a witness to a past rich in epic events, episcopal rule, and medieval spirit, immersed in an Alpine landscape that has fascinated those who pass through for centuries.