Bolzano is a city and the capital of the province of South Tyrol in Northern Italy. The area has been a settlement since 15 BC, when it was occupied by Raetian Isaric people before the invasion and conquest by the Romans.
The city has a wonderful medieval centre with a fantastic array of the both Gothic and Romanesque churches, the signage here is also bilingual, which really gives it a unique feel. Due to its placement and its mixed cultures it has become a very popular tourist destination.
Some of the major sights here include the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, which is home to the glacier mummy, Ötzi the Iceman, which was found in 1991. The Gothic cathedral was started in 1184 and was expanded and completed by 1382. Unlike some other cathedrals, this one is not as imposing in sheer size, but the attention to detail and overlook appearance of the building definitely makes up for it. The monastery of Muri-Gries is also located here.
There is the Lauben, which is a mile long street in the centre of the city, which has medieval arcades that today houses high street shops. There is also the Victory Monument, which is a gate that was built in 1928 and is dedicated to the Martyrs of World War One. The following Latin script can be seen on its exterior:
‘HIC PATRIAE FINES SISTE SIGNA / HINC CETEROS EXCOLVIMVS LINGVA LEGIBVS ARTIBVS’ which means - Here at the border of the fatherland set down the banner. From this point on we educated the others with language, law and culture.
There are lots of castles here, such as Maretsch Castle that was built as a residence, rather than for defence purposes. The oldest part of it dates back to the 13th century and it is open to the public. Runkelstein Castle is situated on the Runchenstayn rock and dates back to 1237. Over the years it has seen many rulers and families and has had a number of restorations, the last being undertaken in the 1990’s. Sigmundskron Castle is a large castle and has a set of fortifications and dates back to the Late Middle Ages; the Messner Mountain Museum was opened here in 2006.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Bolzano? Then below is a selection of Apartments in Bolzano and villas in Bolzano that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
