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Bolzano
About Bolzano
Basic Information:
- City: Bolzano
- Region: Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
- Province: Bolzano
- Zona: North Italy
- Coordinates: 46°30′0″N 11°21′0″E
- Surface: 52,34 km²
- Population: 104 841 (by 31/12/2011)
- Patron Saint: Maria Assunta
- Saint Day: Whitmonday (Lunedì di Pentecoste)
- Web site: Official Web Site
Bolzano (German: Bozen; Ladin: Balsan or Bulsan; Latin: Bauzanum) is the capital center of the province of South Tyrol in northern Italy.
Bolzano is the seat of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, where lectures and seminars are held in English, German and Italian.
The city is also the home of the Italian Army's Alpini High Command (COMALP) and some of its combat and support units.
Curiosity
The population of the city of Bolzano according to the census of 2011 is for 74 % of the Italian language, for 25.5 % German and 0.68 % Ladin-speaking.
There are 54 towns in Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige that officially recognized the Ladin language. 8 of these towns are in Trentino-Alto Adige.
Officially recognized are at about 92 000 inhabitants but the breakdown by language groups is detected only in the provinces of Trento and Bolzano.
What to see in Bolzano?
Mountain tourism
Bolzano is situated in the eastern part of the large valley originated from the conjunction of the valleys Isarco, Sarentina and Adige. It is a beautiful place between the higher mountain and a point where you can start up to the mountains.
A small rocky cliff of the latter, called Virgolo, stands vertically close to the city.
The city is connected to the three nearest mountains via cable cars that pass by each one thousand meters in altitude: the Cable car that goes up the hill Monte Pozza until Colle di Villa (Herrenkohlern), the Renon that is arriving in Soprabolzano and San Genesio that is reaching the plateau of the same name, the village Salto.
From the city, looking east along the Isarco, you can see the nearby and charming Catinaccio (Rosengarten 3004 m), which is a part of the Dolomites, with features Vajolet Towers.
Castles and Palaces
There are many castles and historic residences in the municipal area or in the immediate vicinity, which is why the Bolzano area was declared the area with the highest density of castles in Europe.
- Firmiano Castle (Schloss Sigmundskron) overlooks the river Adige. It has been restored and is now the headquarters of the Mountain Museum designed by the famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner.
- Flavon Castle (Haselburg): medieval castle of the Lords of Haselberg, dominates the district of Aslago (Oberau-Haslach), and has recently undergone a major renovation
- Gerstburg Palace (Ansitz Gerstburg): seventeenth-century mansion of von Gerstburg Gerstl, then the Giovanelli, with eighteenth-century paintings of Martin Knoller, today the seat of the Regional Administrative Court
- Hörtenberg Castle (Schloss Hörtenberg): located in the district of S. Osvaldo (St. Oswald), built in the sixteenth century by the family Hörtmair, then the lords Fuchs von Fuchsberg and Giovanelli
- Mareccio Castle (Schloss Maretsch): located in the city center, along the Talvera, surrounded by vineyards. Frescoes of the sixteenth century, some of the rooms are used as numerous prestigious exhibitions
- Menz Palace (Ansitz Menz): residence of the noble family of Menz, bankers eighteenth century, in the exhibition, decorated in frescoes by Karl Henrici
- Novale Palace (Schloss Ried) located at the entrance of the Val Sarentina (Sarntal)
- Pock Palace (Palais Pock): already of the Lords of Liechtenstein, the historic site of the first theater in Bolzano and the hotel Kaiserkrone, in Piazza della Mostra
- Rafenstein Castle (Burg Rafenstein): Two ruins from the sixteenth century, rehabilitated in 2010
- Rendelstein Castle (Burg Rendelstein): castle in 1200, along the Talvera
- Roncolo Castle (Schloss Runkelstein): at the mouth of Val Sarentina. It is called "the illustrated castle" (Bilderburg) for the three-and fifteenth-century frescoes. Plenty of space dedicated to temporary and permanent exhibitions
- Rottenbuch Residence (Ansitz Rottenbuch): noble house of the seventeenth century, built by David Wagner, a native of Augusta, founder of the Conti von Sarnthein, now the seat of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (Landesdenkmalamt)
- Sant 'Antonio Castle (Schloss Klebenstein): noble house of the thirteenth century
- Stillendorf Palace (Ansitz Stillendorf): home of the noble von Zallinger at the Church of the Sacred Heart
- Toggenburg Palace (Ansitz Toggenburg): formerly the seat of the ancient lords of the judgment of the Wanga, then conti Sarnthein, the nineteenth century the conti Toggenburg
- Trapp Castle (Trapp Ansitz): residence of the Conti von Trapp, in Via della Mostra
- Treuenstein Castle (Burg Treuenstein): crenellated tower of the thirteenth century, also known as Gescheibter Turm
- Weinegg Castle (Burg Weineck): it remained only the chapel of San Vigilio at the foot of Virgolo (Virgl).
Churches
When you go to Bolzano and Alto Adige/Südtirol the first thing that will impress you there is not only the high Alpine Landscape but also the particular churches that are build more like in Europe style. There are really many interesting churches to see in all the area of Alto Adige/Südtirol.
- Cathedral of Bolzano, co-cathedral of the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone Gothic and Romanesque dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta
- Dominican Church and cloister in Gothic style
- Cappuccini Church, dating from the seventeenth century with underground containing archaeological remains of Roman and medieval
- Franciscan Church with Gothic cloister
- Church of the Carmelitans, in a modern style in 1948
- Abbey of Muri-Gries Ancient princely castle medieval
- Baroque Church of St. Agostino in adjoining Abbey of Muri-Gries
- Church of San Giovanni in Villa, a small church of the XII century in the district close to the center
- Church of the Teutonic Order, a complex of the fourteenth century
- Old Parish Church of Gries, contains a Romanesque crucifix of 1200 and the precious altar casket wood sculptor Michael Pacher
- Church of St. Mary Maddalena, church of XII century in the district of wine
- Calvary Church of Virgolo, baroque church of the eighteenth century on a cliff overlooking the city
- Church of St. Vigilio of Virgolo, Romanesque church of the thirteenth century
- Church of St. Martin in Campiglio, located in the church di Campiglio today alongside the highway
- Church of Christ the King (Bolzano) in modern style.
Monuments
- Monument of Walther von der Vogelweide, in the square, by the sculptor Heinrich Natter (1889)
- Monument to King Laurin, the streets Silvius Magnago by the sculptor Andrä Kompatscher (1914)
- Victory Monument, in the square, designed by architect Marcello Piacentini (1928)
Museums
- Provincial Archaeological Museum in Bolzano
- Museum - Currently
- Museion - Museum of modern and contemporary art
- Museum of Natural Science
- School Museum - First Schulmuseum
- Mercantile Museum
- Museum of Nativity Scenes
- Museum of the Cathedral / Dommuseum
- MMM Firmian - Messner Mountain Museum - Housed in Sigmundskron is the new museum dedicated to the "mountains and its people" and created by the will of Reinhold Messner.
How to go to Bolzano?
- By Air
The airport is located just outside the city of Bolzano, in the south. The Airport is currently connected to the city center from the lines of SASA 10A or 10B (Station-Hospital / Hospital / Station) with a stop at the beginning of airport access road (approximately 600 m). There are also Taxi for those who wish to reach the city fast.
Bolzano Dolomiti Airport - International Airport of Bolzano
- By Train
One of the best way to go to Bolzano is by train. You will immediately reach the center of the city and its historical center and also to escape the traffic and the problem to find a parking there.
For more information visit the Italian Railway web site.
- By Car
Bolzano is very easy reachable by car from South part of the region and all Italy and from Austria. You can reach Bolzano in one of the following ways:
- From Highway A22 Brenner - Modena, exit in Bolzano South or Bolzano North.
- National Road SS12 - from Trento and Brenner
- National Road SS38 - from Reschenpass
- MEBO Freeway Bolzano - Merano
- Go Around
As in all the Italian cities the better way to visit Bolzano and its sightseeing is by walking. The Old Historical Center is not so big and you can enjoy discover if by foot.
- Bolzano is connected with three mountain villages around the city by three Cableways. If you want to go to Ritten/Renon or Jenesien/San Genesio you can use the "Value Card": there are one-way ticket for Ritten and for Jenesien. On the Ritten there is also a trolley car which brings from Oberbozen at the Cableway station to Klobenstein which is the main place on the plateau. A one-way ticket from Bolzano to Klobenstein.
- If you want to go to Kohlern-Colle you have to buy an extra ticket - trips every 30 minutes. Note that this Cableway have one hour break during the lunch time.
Useful information
- Take in consideration that in Bolzano the Taxi is not so common and used. Especially during the night you can have difficulties to find a taxi. So why is considerated to visit the city by your own car or to have a hotel nearby the Station of the city.
- The good but not the cheapest solution could be to get a Rent-a-Car from the airport for the time you are there.
- There are a lot of pay car parks in the city and car parks for people with disabilities have special signs. However it is important to remember that in Bolzano parking on white-striped streets is Only for Residents in that area with a special permit. Non-residents may park their cars there free only from 1 pm on Saturday until 8 am on Monday.
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Map of Bolzano
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