Castello di Stenico, Medieval castle and history museum in Stenico, Italy

Castello di Stenico is a 12th-century castle near the village of Stenico in western Trentino, built on a prehistoric fortified site controlling the territory west of Trento. Its oldest core is the Torre della Fame, where prisoners were left to die of starvation. From the 13th century the prince-bishops of Trento expanded it into an episcopal residence administered by the Capitano delle Giudicarie.

The castle dates to the 12th century and stands on a prehistoric fortified site controlling the land west of Trento. In the 13th century it passed to the prince-bishop of Trento, who enlarged it into an episcopal residence administered by a Captain of the Giudicarie. After the secularisation of the principality, the Austrian government used it as a district court and tax office; the province of Trento began restoration in 1973.

The castle was the seat of the Captain of the Giudicarie, who governed the valley in the name of the Prince-Bishop of Trento while the seven pievi of the Giudicarie kept their own autonomies. For nearly eight centuries a captain and his lieutenants held political, administrative and judicial authority here.

The fortress is reached easily by road from the village and provides wheelchair accessibility for visitors. It operates as a branch of the Museo Castello del Buonconsiglio di Trento and maintains regular opening hours.

The oldest part of the castle is the so-called Torre della Fame (Tower of Hunger), where prisoners were left to die of starvation. The sources do not mention a ceiling trapdoor; the tower's name comes from this use as a place of death by hunger.