Points of interest

Bolzano is a place of encounter and exchange between different cultures. In art Giottesque paintings and works of the Gothic school coexist, while in architecture, the singular contrast between the historic city and the new one, divided by the Talvera river, immediately stands out. Visiting the city means discovering the peculiarities that arise from the meeting of the Mediterranean and Central Europe as you stroll through churches, monuments, historic streets and squares, museums and castles. The history of Bolzano is also told through the cloisters, arcades and frescoes of the different architectural styles of the many churches and convents scattered along the main streets and the most hidden lanes, that have contributed to the development and beauty of the city so much that they still fascinate guests and Bolzano residents today. For example, the cathedral dedicated to Mary of the Assumption and co-cathedral of the Bolzano-Brixen diocese, which, with its 65-metre-high bell tower, towers above Walther Square. It is this square, also known as the “good living room” of the city, that represents the heart of the old town, together with the famous mediaeval “Portici” with their typical seamless sequence of shops, some typical and traditional, others modern and refined. The façades are a cheerful sequence of different architectural features: the “erkers” (bay windows projecting onto the street), the stucco decorations, the pastel colours, the balcony of Palazzo Mercantile, the arcades alternating that alternate in various heights and with various decorations. Particularly beautiful are those of the Old Town Hall, now home to the Municipal Historical Archives, built in a pointed arch with beautiful fresco decorations. Even in the city, it is possible to come across one of the many castles typical of the region, such as Mareccio Castle (13th century) located close to the city centre, surrounded by a vineyard of prized Lagrein grapes and with an enchanting view of the Catinaccio-Rosengarten. Another noteworthy example is Roncolo Castle, located at the entrance to Val Sarentina, north of the city. Built in 1237 on a rocky outcrop, the castle has been enlarged and restored several times and preserves splendid frescoes depicting scenes of courtly life, hunting episodes, knightly tournaments and moments from everyday life. Also to mention is the presence of literary cues that can be seen in the depiction of the adventures of Tristan and Isolde and those of King Arthur with his knights of the round table. This is the largest and best-preserved cycle of medioeval frescoes on secular subjects. Finally, there is no shortage of museums in the city, which again offer an interesting variety. Among the best known is certainly the Archaeological Museum, since 1998 the home of the famous mummy Ötzi, the Iceman. In addition to the original 5300-year-old mummy, his clothing and equipment, the museum exhibits all aspects of the ‘Ötzi’ phenomenon: from living conditions in the Copper Age to the latest results of scientific and archaeological research to the curiosities surrounding Ötzi’s ‘second life’. Turning to the scientific-landscape sphere, there is the South Tyrol Museum of Natural Sciences. It is housed in the former administrative headquarters of the Austrian Emperor Maximilian I and on an area of 100 square metres, the variety of the South Tyrolean landscape is depicted, in particular the genesis of the Dolomites. The marine aquarium is particularly popular, as well as various travelling exhibitions. Modern and contemporary art find their place in the Museion, a modern building designed by the KSV Krüger Schuberth Vandreike architecture studio in Berlin, and a reference point for local and international contemporary art.