Discover Bolzano: Holiday Apartment, Museums, Castles and the REBE Wine Trail

Ötzi can be viewed by the public in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, in a specially developed refrigeration cell that recreates the conditions of a glacier. The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano/Bozen also presents a permanent exhibition about the Iceman and the objects found with him.

Culture

Museion, the museum of modern and contemporary art in Bolzano/Bozen, promotes international art, culture and innovation in South Tyrol. The collection currently comprises around 4,400 works. Different cultures also meet in the city itself: in art, for example, painting influenced by Giotto and Gothic works come together, while the Talfer stream architecturally separates the historic city from the new city.

The South Tyrol Museum of Nature is housed in the former administrative residence of Emperor Maximilian I; its main attraction is a saltwater aquarium. The School Museum of the City of Bolzano/Bozen conveys the historical experience of the Italian, German and Ladin communities through teaching materials, photographs, certificates, documents, furnishings and posters. In the Palazzo Mercantile, the Mercantile Museum traces the economic history of the City of Bolzano/Bozen through a chronological tour featuring archival documents, paintings and original works of art.

The cultural attractions of Bolzano/Bozen include churches, monuments, historic streets and squares, museums and castles. Castel Roncolo preserves the largest and best-preserved secular fresco cycle from the Middle Ages, with scenes of courtly life, hunting scenes, knightly tournaments and everyday life. Castel Mareccio is a 13th-century castle near the historic old town of Bolzano/Bozen. It stands in a Lagrein vineyard and is used for exhibitions, concerts, cultural evenings and conferences. Castel Flavon preserves valuable 16th-century frescoes and offers views over Bolzano, the Adige Valley and, to the north, the Salten plateau, the Sarntal Valley and the Renon. Castel Flavon is open to the public as a restaurant and as a venue for celebrations and receptions.

The Messner Mountain Museum Firmian in Castel Firmiano offers insights into the world of the mountains, and in particular into the relationship between people and mountains, in its towers, halls and courtyards.

History

A guided tour through Bolzano’s old town leads through medieval alleyways, under the arcades, across the fruit market, into the courtyard of the town hall and into a selected church, ending at Waltherplatz. The “Underground Bolzano” tour leads through the cathedral crypt, to the archaeological excavations beneath the Hannah Arendt School, into the historic cellars of the Mercantile Building and into further vaults beneath the historic arcaded houses.

Runkelstein Castle can be reached from Bolzano on foot via the green Lungotalvera promenade, by bicycle via the cycle path or by bus route 12. A path from Bolzano follows the Talfer Gorge, offers views of Runkelstein Castle and Ried Castle, passes a waterfall and the remains of Walbeinstein Castle, and reaches the Rafenstein Inn after crossing the Talfer Bridge, with panoramic views over the city and the castle ruins.

Culinary Experiences

The “Speck Safari” leads through Bolzano’s old town and introduces South Tyrolean speck during a meeting with a speck ambassador. The “Speck Safari” also explains the history, production methods and quality guidelines of speck; the experience concludes with a tasting of this traditional product and a glass of wine in a traditional inn.

A culinary tour through the historic old town of Bolzano includes three stops featuring typical Bolzano specialities, house wine, beer and small regional delicacies. Another culinary tour leads through Mustergasse and the historic Campofranco courtyard to the Mercato Centrale, where four tasting stops feature various regional and Italian specialities.

The REBE Wine Trail comprises ten artistically designed installations that provide insights into the culture of winemaking. At the same time, the wine trail connects Bolzano with Signat, the vineyards, Rentsch and the historic Ansitz Waldgries winery.

Nature

The banks of the Talfer feature extensive green spaces and well-equipped playgrounds; they are suitable for long walks and bicycle tours. Numerous smaller bridges along the river enable short and long walks as well as circular routes for pedestrians and cyclists. Along the cycle paths to Bolzano Sud, the walls are decorated with colourful murals.

A path leads through orchards and vineyards to a viewpoint overlooking Bolzano and ends at the Rafenstein Inn. The landscape combines paths, vineyards and viewpoints with the historic sites that shape the cityscape and the surrounding area.

Other Locality Pages

Other locality pages: Bolzano, Braies, Burgraviato, Salten-Schlern, Isarco Valley, Puster Valley, Val Venosta, Wipptal, Reschen Am See, Fiè allo Sciliar, Weissenbach, Anterselva Di Sotto, Casateia, Pfelders, Unterinn, Laag, San Giovanni, Magrè sulla Strada del Vino, Weitental, Slingia, Antermoia, Vals, Santa Valburga, Siusi, San Candido, Antholz Mittertal, Sankt Michael, Caldaro sulla Strada del Vino, Trafoi, Saltusio, Riomolino, Rablà, Santa Gertrude, Verschneid, Cardano, Pennes, Colle di Fuori, Petersberg, Petschied, Anterselva di Sopra, Longega, Stulles, Fundres, Lazfons, Oberinn, Pineta, Astfeld, San Felice, San Leonardo, Rina, Riva di Tures, Stainhaus, Vernago, Kurzras, Solda, Santa Maddalena, Ridanna, Riscone, Prenn, Barbiano, Wahlen, Weißlahnbad, Ahornach, Obereggen, Santo Stefano.

To the overarching travel overview: South Tyrol.