Bolzano

Bolzano is a municipality in South Tyrol that rises in a basin surrounded by high mountains and at the intersection of communication routes that unite it with other Italian regions and the Alps. Bolzano has historically been a center of commercial traffic and the phenomenon of industrialization, which began after the annexation to Italy and the establishment of the province, led to a significant development in the secondary sector, thanks also to the abundance of hydropower in the area. It was precisely the phenomenon of industrialization, until 1980, that led to a considerable increase in the immigration of Italians from other regions and therefore to the increase in the Italian-speaking component in the city. Located on the Brenner communications network, Bolzano has a developed system of hotel and tourist facilities. The town was already inhabited in prehistoric times and was conquered in 14 BC by Drusus, who installed a military station in the place. During the second half of the 7th century, the city was the seat of a Lombard county, while in the 8th century, it was conquered by the Franks. Subsequently it was disputed between the Dukes of Trento and those of Bavaria and in 1027 it became part of the county of the bishops of Trento, thanks to Corrado II, with the exception of the suburbs of Gries, Dodiciville and Laives, which depended on the counts of Tyrol. In 1531 Bolzano was incorporated into the county of Tyrol and the Habsburgs recognized special statutes. Napoleon assigned it first to Bavaria and then to the Italian Kingdom, while in 1815 it was incorporated into Austria by the Congress of Vienna, and was part of Austria until the Italian occupation in 1918. It was seriously damaged during the Second World War and was annexed in the German state from 1943 to 1945. Bolzano, to date, has a medieval layout: it is divided into five districts and thanks to its variety, it can be defined as a "city of the world", where Tyrolean tradition coexists with Italian culture and Germanic. Also called a city of a thousand dialects, visiting it will mean immersing yourself in different cultures. In German it is called Bozen, while in Ladin it takes the name of Bulsan. During the fascist dictatorship, many families moved to Bolzano, to "colonize the city", which in those years was inhabited by the Germans, creating a remarkable ethnic mix. To date, Italians and Germans coexist in the place peacefully.

We advise you to start the tour starting from the Duomo which, with its green and gold cover, stands out in the center of Piazza Walther and represents the most important religious building in the city. Rebuilt in 2008, it is an example of late Gothic finished in 1420, but with much more ancient origins. The Duomo was dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta and hides precious treasures inside. Once inside, you will be captivated by the red and yellow marble cladding with Gothic elements and the wine door, where the vintners once could sell the wine. There is also a 15th century fresco, made by students of Giotto's school and a beautiful Gothic pulpit, made of polychrome marble. The most precious objects are kept in the Duomo Museum. Near the Duomo, there is also the Dominican Church, to be visited especially for its cycle of frescoes, testifying to the frescoes that show the evolution of Bolzano's painting in the '300,' 400 and '500. It is a painting that is affected both by the painting of Giotto's school, and by German and Italian painting. Not to be missed is the Old Parish Church of Gries , a church which is about 2 kilometers from Piazza Walter and Piazza delle Erbe, where there is a wooden crucifix of the thirteenth century and a polychrome altar, created by Michael Pacher.

Piazza delle Erbe is a characteristic square where the fruit and vegetable market has been held since 1295 and where, even today, the people of Bolzano come to do the shopping. Walking through the market, you can breathe the multiethnic atmosphere of the city and enjoy some typical delights, or even admire the fountain of Neptune, among the 100 most beautiful fountains in Italy. On the neo-Gothic palace located on the corner with Via Museo, you will find a plaque reminiscent of the Al Sole hotel, where Goethe, Mozart and Emperor Joseph II once stayed. From Piazza delle Erbe, the arcades extend, forming a pedestrian street that has always been the center of the city's trade and walking through its arcades, it means you will get to know the soul of this city. Between a coffee and a tour of the shops, you can admire stuccos, frescoes or the Gothic and Baroque decorations of the old town hall of Bolzano.

Not to be missed is the wonderful Castel Firmiano , which stands on a large rock, at the mouth between two rivers. This castle, in addition to its historical importance, is a symbol of independence. In fact, it was in this castle that in 1957 the cry of "Los von Trient" protested more than 30,000 South Tyroleans, to obtain autonomy from Trento. Since 2007, in the White Tower, there is a museum founded by the mountaineer Reinhold Messner, where objects from all over the world are collected which reveal the relationship between man and the mountain. Another destination not to be missed is Castel Roncolo , located on a spur of rock overlooking the Talvera stream, rich in medieval frescoes inside. The building was purchased in the 14th century by the brothers Niklaus and Franz Vintler, and in its cycle of frescoes various themes are represented ranging from literature to court life, with daily scenes of local nobles at the turn of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. During the Christmas period, do not miss the Bolzano Christmas Markets , called Bozner Christkindlmarkt, where walking through its wooden houses, you will be captivated by the smell of spices and mulled wine and breathe the real Christmas atmosphere.

The Archaeological Museum is located in the historic center of Bolzano and is known for the figure of Ötzi, the ice man. Ötzi is the mummy of a man who lived in these areas over 4,000 years ago. He is also called the Similaun man, taking the name of the place where he was discovered. It is a mummy previous to Stonehenge and the Cheops pyramids, but it appears completely intact and well preserved. Also from the historic center, you can reach the Colle cable car , the oldest in the world. It was inaugurated in 1908 by a hotelier who wanted to allow tourists to reach his hotel, 1134 meters high. From that moment, through the cable car it is possible to reach the locality of the hill , where between bars and restaurants, you can enjoy the panorama of the glaciers and the Dolomites. The Rencio district is a hilly area that can be reached on foot from the city: it is a place rich in vineyards, monuments and landscapes. In this place there are also the farms, rural buildings of South Tyrol and the Loacker estate, which can be visited by appointment. There is also a small jewel to visit: it is the Romanesque Church of Santa Maddalena , a church built in 1295, enriched with frescoes made between 1200 and 1400. For lovers of contemporary art, there is the Museion , a venue at the forefront designed by a famous architecture firm in Berlin, where international contemporary art works are kept. For lovers of botany and geology, there is also the Museum of Natural Sciences in Bolzano, which will allow you to understand the birth and development of the Dolomites.