Bolzano

Southern, Mediterranean flair and genuine Tyrolean coziness, we find that combined in the most beautiful way in Bolzano / Bozen. The location at the confluence of the Eisack, Talfer, and Etsch rivers, as well as on the two main routes from Italy to Germany (the Roman Via Claudia Augusta over the Reschen Pass and the Via Imperii over the Brenner), has always made Bolzano / Bozen a place of encounter and cultural exchange.

Located at the interface of the Italian and German cultural and settlement areas, Bolzano / Bozen has always been bilingual. However, the Italian-speaking population has grown disproportionately due to the migration from southern Italy, especially during the time of fascism. Today, 73% of the people in Bozen are Italian-speaking and only 26% are German-speaking, in the rest of South Tyrol, the ratio is exactly the opposite. As a result, the city has gained atmosphere and has become younger and more urban.

The city was founded at the end of the 12th century. Its strategically important location quickly turned the small market into a prosperous trading city. The center of the Talfer city still exudes the atmosphere of the medieval city. The arcades, the Silbergasse, and the fruit market enchant with their historical buildings and yet are full of life. In Waltherplatz, the city center, stands the cathedral, also a Gothic building. Its striking, 65 m high tower with the beautifully pierced sandstone spire is the symbol of the Talfer city. The other two main churches, the Dominican and Franciscan churches, are also essentially Gothic. Both churches have highly interesting frescoes from the Paduan Giotto school.

The museums are particularly worth seeing, especially the City Museum, the Nature Museum, and the Archaeology Museum, which showcases the main attraction, the glacier mummy of the legendary Ötzi. The opening of the "Museion," the new Museum of Modern Art, caused a stir internationally in 2008. The transparent cube on the banks of the Talfer is considered a particularly successful example of contemporary architecture.

The city is not standing still, it is a young, modern city and it shows. With prominent new buildings such as the Museion or the Free University, the capital of the autonomous province of South Tyrol has gained a lot of urban flair and set forward-looking signs. The list of cultural events and renowned festivals is also extensive, such as the South Tyrol Jazz Festival and the Bolzano Dance Festival. One of the most important piano competitions in the world also takes place here: the International Piano Competition Feruccio Busoni. It has been held every two years since 1949 and has helped pianist stars such as Jörg Demus, Garrick Ohlsson, Walther Klien, John Ogdon, Lilya Zilberstein, and last but not least, Martha Argerich to break through.

If you venture a little out of the city, there is even more to discover! In the district of Gries, which was only incorporated in 1925, hotels and villas testify to its history as a health resort. Worth seeing are the Benedictine monastery and the Old Parish Church, which houses a valuable Romanesque crucifix and an altarpiece by Michael Pacher. The Guntschnapromenade, a botanical trail from the late 19th century with lush and colorful Mediterranean flora, leads to the mountain slopes behind the church.

Also exceptional are the many castles and ruins, a total of around 40 in number. The largest of these castle complexes is Sigmundskron Castle, which towers over the Etsch in the southwest. This impressive fortress is of particular importance to the German-speaking South Tyroleans, as it was here that an impressive mass demonstration for the "separation from Trento" took place in 1957, which ultimately led to today's South Tyrolean Autonomy Statute. Since 2006, Sigmundskron Castle has been part of the large museum project of mountaineer Reinhold Messner as MMM Firmian.

Also striking is the Haselburg on a rock in the south of the town. The castle restaurant with its magnificent view over the entire basin is a popular excursion destination. Another gem is Runkelstein Castle, the famous "Picture Castle". Built by the Fuggers and richly adorned with magnificent frescoes, the castle provides the atmospheric setting for the summer concerts in the castle courtyard.

There are plenty of sports opportunities. The cycle path network is excellent, there is a variety of sports facilities, and of course, a wide range of wellness and active sports. The surrounding mountains invite you to hike and mountain bike, but also to relax and unwind. The nature reserve of Kohlern, Jenesien on the high plateau of Salten, Ritten, and the Sarntal north of the city offer wonderful hiking opportunities as well as skiing and cross-country skiing areas in winter.

The Dolomites are practically on the doorstep, as are the wine-growing areas around Lake Kaltern and in the Etschtal. Merano is only 25 km away, Innsbruck 120 km, Trento 60 km, and Verona 160 km. In the Grödnertal, you can reach in 30 minutes, and Lake Garda in about 1 hour. So there is always something to see and discover in all directions, and even in bad weather, you can easily escape in Bolzano / Bozen!