Tourist attractions in Bolzano, Italy

The church dedicated to Maria Assunta is the co-cathedral of the Bolzano - Bressanone diocese and the most important Gothic church in the region. It stands on the site of an early Christian, early medieval and Romanesque basilica consecrated in 1180, later modified by Lombard workers and completed by Swabian workers at the end of the 14th century. The 65-metre-high bell tower is the work of the Swabian architect Hans Lutz von Schussenried (1519).

Outside, on the north side, there is a crucifix of the Veronese school with a votive image of the pilgrim Ulrich being struck by a bell and the “Porticina del Vino”, also known as “Porta della Sposa”, where wine was sold according to an ancient privilege.

On the west side, the Romanesque portal with prothyrum and lions, the rose window restored after the bombings of World War II, the bronze door by Defner and the fresco attributed to Friedrich Pacher of the Madonna and Child (1475).

In the interior, three naves of the same height, the Gothic pulpit carved from sandstone by Hans Lutz von Schussenried, the Baroque polychrome marble altar (1720) by Ranghieri and Allio from Verona, the Crucifix (1420), the Baroque chapel of the Graces added in 1745 with frescoes by Karl Henrici (1771), on the altar the venerated statue of Maria Lactans of the Veronese school from 1200. Archduke Rainier of Austria, who died in Bolzano in 1853, is buried in the crypt under the main wing.

On the southern parvis of the building is the monument to Peter Mayr, commander of the Schützen, who supported the rebellion against French rule and was shot on 20 February 1810. It was designed by Georg von Hauberrisser of Munich.

Maria Assunta Cathedral: open Monday to Saturday from 7.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Bolzano Cathedral Treasury: open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. all year round

Tel. +39 0471 978676; info@dompfarre.bz.it

The Dominican friars settled in Bolzano in 1272 and built a single-nave church within a monastery complex.

Part of the old building is now the Music Conservatory, home to the prestigious Ferruccio Busoni international piano competition, the Municipal Gallery, exhibitions and other important cultural institutions.

In the 17th and 18th centuries the church was decorated with Gothic vaults and elements. The interior houses an altarpiece by Guercino and fine examples of 14th-century Bolzano painting.

The artistic jewel is the Chapel of St. John, which contains a cycle of frescoes of the Giotto school and is a splendid example of 14th-century art. The decoration was commissioned by the Florentine head of the de' Rossi family, naturalised von Botsch. Particularly significant are the scenes from the life of St Nicholas, the Triumph of Death, the Flight into Egypt and the Torture of St Bartholomew.

Opening hours: Monday - Saturday 9.30 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday 12 - 6 p.m.

In the adjoining cloister (entrance from Dominican Square), you can admire frescoes by Friedrich Pacher dating from 1496. The wall paintings narrate the stages of Christ's life. From the cloister it is possible to enter the Chapel of St. Catherine, where Giotto's 15th century frescoes are preserved.

Special opening hours of the cloister: every Saturday from April to October 10 am - 12 pm and 3-5 pm

Franciscans settled in the town in 1221; the present building dates back to the first half of 1300, but the original ceiling, flat and with a polygonal choir, has been replaced by fifteenth-century's vaults.

The cloister is a perfect Gothic example replacing the Romanesque style one of the first construction. There are many frescoes of different ages with examples of the Giotto school of 1600 and 1700. The church has a magnificent wooden altar by Hans Klocker of Bressanone dedicated to the Nativity (painted wood – 1500).

The church choir is embellished by modern stained glass windows by Widmoser.

Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Sunday from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

reinald.romaner@franziskaner.at

The church is dedicated to S. Anthony of Padua and was built around 1600 within the Castel Wendelstein estates of the Counts of Tyrol. It has a magnificent altar piece by Felice Brusasorci (1600), above the main altar, and examples of mannerism in the chapels of Maria Assunta and SS. Sebastiano and Giovanni in the first side chapel.

Monday to Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Via Weggenstein and S. George's Church: building of Gothic shapes dating back to the beginning of the XV century hosting the Teutonic order. The elegant building is worth a visit for its collection of stems, mortuary shields, gravestones and flags of the members of the order that can be dated to between the XVI and the XIX century.

Opening hours: Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Consecrated in 1180, this small church is the jewel of the town. The simple architecture of the main body is embellished by the church bell with mullioned windows with three and two lights dating back to the first half of 1300. The interior pictorial decoration is exceptional: travelling artists of the Giotto School introduced a new plastic style and an excellent fresco technique revealing extraordinary artistic and interpretative skills.

Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

Thanks to the collaboration between the parish of the Cathedral and the Italian Touring Club, the tourist office of Bolzano opens on an exceptional basis this small church in late Romanesque style consecrated in 1180. The interior is covered by precious frescoes of the Bolzanina school of the 15th century.

During the special opening hours, the red zone is suspended in Innsbruck street on the side of the little church: three or four parking spaces just before the entrance.
The little church can also be reached by public transport: bus line number 183 (from the Bolzano bus station) to the Mila stop in the district of Campiglio. Lack of pavement between the stop and the church.

The church can be visited on Saturdays from 10 am to 12 pm and 2-4 p.m., from the beginning of April to the end of October.

The oldest part of the monastery dates back to the thirteenth century and was commissioned by the counts Morit Greifenstein. At the beginning the monastery was inhabited by the Augustinian monks. It was destroyed during the Napoleonic Wars and secularized in 1807 by the Bavarian regime. In 1845 the Austrian emperor donated the monastery to the Benedictine monks from Muri in Switzerland. The church is dedicated to St Augustine and preserves valuable frescoes of Martin Knoller.

In the opening hours (Mon-Sun 9am - 7 pm) the access is allowed as far as the inner gate.

Near to Gries square stands the Old Gothic Parish Church, located in an ancient cemetery, that houses two treasures of great value: a wooden altar with casket created by the famous Michael Pacher (1471-75) considered a masterpiece of Gothic art and counted as one of the best preserved wooden altars with casket in the area and a Romanesque crucifix of 1200 probably of foreign origin.

The church can be visited from Mon-Fri from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2.30 - 4 pm from the beginning of May to the end of October.; from half June to the end of August Mon-Fri 10am-12 pm

info@pfarreigries.com - no dogs allowed

Download here  the info brochure

The hill on the eastern edge of the Bolzano valley, with a very favourable climate, had been settled a long time ago, as demonstrated by the finding of prehistorical pieces. But the place and the wine of St Magdalena move into the light of history only with a document written 1170 – 1174, in which “Otacher von Berg” gives some vineyards situated in “Placedell” (today Prazöll) to the Chapter of the cathedral of Bressanone. It’s not known when the winemakers built up a church in honour of their patroness; it was expressly named for the first time in 1295 and, according to the masonry, it should not be arisen much earlier. The artistic value of the church of St Magdalena is given by the fine paintings that line all the inside; they were made in two rounds, in different epochs.

The church can be visited on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 12 pm and 4-6 pm from the beginning of April to the end of October

The little church of San Vigilio houses Gothic frescoes depicting the “history of Maria” and “the history of San Vigilio”. The Church of the Calvary dates back to 1600, it’s in the late baroque style and it has been designed by the architects Pietro and Andrea Delai; it houses valuable frescoes and stuccoes.

The church can be visited on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Situated at the beginning of the Val Sarentino, to the north of the city, the castle is easily accessible on foot via the greenbelt footpath along the Talvera River, or by bicycle along the cycle path. The bus n.12 from Walther Square approach the base of the castel. Free car-parking facilities are available for cars and bicycles at the entrance of the castle.

Built in 1237 on a rock, the castle has been extended and restored several times and houses splendid frescoes depicting scenes of courtesan life, hunting scenes, chivalric competitions and episodes of everyday life. There are also literary cues, such as the representation of the story of Tristan and Iseult and the adventures of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It is by far the greatest and best kept collection of profane frescoes of the Middle Ages.

Cultural events and exhibitions featured regularly in the castle hall and rooms are also very interesting. The castle has a restaurant service offering the opportunity to enjoy local delicatessen in a medieval ambience.

www.runkelstein.info/home-english

The XIII century castle, situated right behind the hystoric city centre, is surrounded by fields of the fine Lagrein grapevines and has stunning views of the Rosengarten. It was renovated in the 1980s and transformed into a conference and exhibition centre.

It is certainly the most interesting and exclusive complex, ideal for housing conferences, seminars, banquets, concerts, cultural events and exhibitions. The beautiful interiors, with stunning frescoes, have all the modern features and conference facilities. The view of the castle from the river walk nearby is particularly impressive. Adjacent parking.

https://www.maretsch.info/kopie-von-maretsch-home

Flavon Castle is open to the public as a restaurant and venue for parties and receptions. It can be accessed from the Aslago quarter: the road winds up the rocky point where the castle stands (parking). Great views can be admired over the Adige Plain, the town of Bolzano and the north (Salto Plateau, Val Sarentino, and Renon). It houses precious frescoes of the 1500.

https://www.haselburg.it/?l=en

Located at the southern-western outskirts of Bolzano/Bozen, this castle is considered one of the emblems of South Tyrol. The original name "Formigar" stems from the Latin word "formicaria". During the second half of the 15th century Duke Sigismond , Count of Tirol, bought it and transformed it into the biggest and most prestigious of his castles naming it Sigmundskron (Sigismonds' crown). At the present date it has become the Mountain Museum of Reinhold Messner MMM Firmian.

Info:
Via Castel Firmiano / Sigmundskronerstr., 53
39100 Bolzano/Bozen
T. 0471 631264

Once the heart of the medieval village, they have kept this characteristic to date with their seamless continuity of shops, some typical and traditional, others chic and modern. The façades are a joyful sequence of different architectural traits: erker (murals), stucco decorations, pastel colours, the balcony of palazzo Mercantile, arcades alternating in various heights and decorations. The Old Townhall arcades, now centre of the Archivio Storico Comunale, are particularly beautiful with their pointed arches and fresco decorations. The back streets linking parallel roads are also of interest as they show the architectural sequence of buildings and the various uses of living spaces (shops, stores, cellars, halls, laboratories are some examples).

Via Joseph Streiter was named after the poet, jurist and mayor of Bolzano in the second half of the XIX century. It corresponds to the north moat of the medieval village and the buildings on the south side correspond to the buildings of the north side of the arcades. The first part of the street is very attractive, especially in the summer: an open-air bar, shops, restaurants and decorations next to the fish stalls create a unique atmosphere. Many arches running through the street give it a medieval character. Number 25 was the entry to the old Townhall.

Via Bottai is one of the most characteristic streets of the town centre with its beautiful ironwork signs, inns and the historical hotel Luna Mondschein. The Natural Science Museum (see museum route) is situated at the end of the street in what used to be the administrative office of Massimiliano I, Emperor and Count of Tyrol (built in 1512). The old inns "Cavallino Bianco" and "Ca' de Bezzi", a favourite destination for many artists, are right next to the Museum.

Via Argentieri: parallel to the Arcades, used to be the south moat. From here you can clearly see the entry to the Mercantile Museum of the palace with the same name, then Casa Troilo, with its fresco and angular turret and a narrow link to the Arcades.

The Piazza Walther, also known as the "drawing room" of the town, was completed in 1808 by order of King Massimiliano di Baviera, and initially named after him. It was later given the name of the Archduke Giovanni d'Austria (Johannesplatz) and, in 1901, it was dedicated to Walther von der Vogelweide (1170-1230), one of the great German poets and storytellers of the Middle Ages. After the annexation of South Tyrol to Italy, the square was named after King Vittorio Emanuele III and, only in the second part of the post-war period, the name of the German poet was resumed. A monument to Walther, of neo-Romanesque style, sculpted in white Lasa marble by the Venostan sculptor Heinrich Natter (1889), dominates the centre of the square. In 1935 the fascist authorities had it transferred to a more secluded part of town (Rosegger Park - via Marconi). The monument was later relocated in the square in 1985.

Via and piazza della Mostra: with the prestigious palaces of Campofranco (corner between piazza Walther and courtyard) and of Menz and Pock, hosting the glamorous hotel and now restaurant "Zur Kaiserkron'". The town jail, with the prison guard accommodation, used to be below the Fink inn.

Galleria Sernesi and Europa, fine shopping arcades link the Libera Università di Bolzano and via Museo which takes you to the Archaeological Museum and the Civic Museum.

Various alleys and through roads link via Portici with the backstreets and parallel roads, Dr. Streiter and Argentieri. Take one of these, vicolo della Pesa, and you can reach piazza del Grano, where the farmers' market was once held.

It is one of the oldest places in Bolzano, once hosting the castle of the Prince-Bishops of Trento (destroyed in 1277 by Mainardo II di Tyrolo) and the church of Sant'Andrea (destroyed in 1785). One of the most picturesque buildings of the city is situated to the north of this square: la casa della Pesa (1634), public weigh-house until 1780.

A beautiful building dating from 1634, on whose side part of the old masonry can be seen, it was the site of the public weighbridge until 1780. Today, after restoration work, it houses several of the city's cultural associations, the Euregio headquarters and the Waag Café.  Opposite, a plaque commemorates the church of St. Andrea (demolished in 1785) and in front of it you can admire the picturesque Piazza del Grano, embellished with beautiful shops and restaurants, once the site of the market for wheat and other agricultural products. This is the first urban centre of Bolzano with the castle of the Prince Bishops of Trento, who founded the city. The castle was probably demolished by Mainard II of Tyrol during one of his raids to gain control of the important trading town (1277).

The colourful and lively piazza delle Erbe, heart of the city centre, hosts the famous fruit and vegetable market daily (except on Saturday afternoon, Sunday and public holidays).

The Neptune fountain, with a statue with his trident and bronze shells, by G. Mayr di Fiè (1745), is on the corner with via Portici. It has been classified amongst the one hundred most beautiful fountains in Italy and is also called "Gabelwirt" (Innkeeper with fork).

On the corner with Via Museo a plaque on the façade of the neo-Gothic building, commemorates the old "Al Sole" hotel where eminent personalities such as Goethe, Herder and Emperor Giuseppe II, resided between 1783 and 1790.

Piazza Municipio is enclosed by the charming town hall palaces to the south (in neo-baroque style with interesting frescoes in the sala del Consiglio – 1907) and by Casa Amonn to the east (façade decorated with rococo style stuccoes and fresco decorations on the remaining buildings), represents the beginning of the Arcades and is often centre for exhibitions.

The train line Verona - Bolzano was completed around the middle of the XIX century; the train station dates back to 1928 and was built by Angelo Mazzoni with numerous allegorical sculptures (electricity, steam, rivers) by Franz Ehrenhöfer. The fountain of frogs, situated opposite, was rebuilt after the original in 1930 following the bombings of the Second World War.

A village within a city. This is what you feel when you wander through the streets of the Gries district, as if you were in an Alpine village, but with Mediterranean characteristics. It is not uncommon to find palm trees, agaves and prickly pears.

Annexed to Bolzano in 1925, Gries has been the health resort and holiday resort of many famous personalities of the Austro-Hungarian period, hosted by elegant hotels and villas surrounded by parks, gardens and vineyards.

Gries can be reached by crossing the Talvera bridge from where the Victory Monument is visible, built at the behest of the fascist regime from 1926 to 1928 to a design by Marcello Piacentini. Since 2014 it has housed the exhibition "BZ '18-'45 - A monument, a city, two dictatorships", which traces local, national and international events and the history of the city in this particular historical moment. The Saturday market is held in the square of the same name, and the arcades of Corso Libertà begin, which, crossing Piazza Mazzini and reaching Piazza Gries, are home to a number of excellent shops and bars for tasty aperitifs.

Piazza Gries is home to the Benedictine Abbey of Muri Gries and the Church of St Augustine, where in 1845 the Benedictines of the Swiss Muri took over the pre-existing Augustinian monastery. The church is an impeccable example of Baroque style, embellished inside with frescoes by Martin Knoller. The keep of the former fortress, now a bell tower, houses the largest bell in South Tyrol.

Near the Piazza is the old Gothic Gries parish church, which houses treasures of great value: a wooden casket altar made in 1475 by Michael Pacher, a Romanesque crucifix from 1200 and an old cemetery.

Near the valley station of the San Genesio cable car is a jewel of modern architecture, the Antonio dalle Nogare Foundation Museum of Contemporary Art, which houses a selection of works from Dalle Nogare's private collection and is animated by temporary exhibitions, workshops, performances and much more. Continuing along Via Sarentina, we arrive at Roncolo Castle, the illustrated manor house.

An area with a very high wine vocation, the beautiful district is embellished on all slopes by neat rows of vines.

Slava grapes are mainly grown here, mostly vinified in Santa Maddalena (named after the hill), with its famous ruby red colour. Farmsteads dot the hillside and the tidy Rencio district. Worth a visit are the curate's church dedicated to St. Laurence (first witnessed in 1180, later remodelled, round apse and bell tower from 1712), the School Museum and the small church of St. Magdalena, situated in a panoramic position on the top of the hill, which houses a valuable cycle of frescoes from the 14th century, well preserved on all the interior walls. Open from April to October every Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 6pm.

Travelling south along the Isarco promenade, you come across the part of the city flanked by the naturally beach-like river banks, pristine green areas and the Semirurali Park, in the Don Bosco district. Here, you’ll find the medieval archaeological Maria in der Au excavations and the amphitheatre, which plays host to the Bolzano Festival Bozen. A stone’s throw away, at 11 via Bari, is the last Semirurali house surviving from the working-class neighbourhood built in the 1930s. Today, it’s a museum that tells the story of this area. Connoisseurs of architecture should venture to the Casanova residential district. Surrounded by vineyards and Castle Firmian, it’s home to some 3,500 residents and is an internationally acclaimed example of ecological architecture.

If you follow the promenades and cycle paths on the left bank of the River Isarco, you arrive at district known for Haselburg castle benignly looking out over the neighbourhood. It can be reached via an uphill ramble through the forest, where a green oasis and a panoramic restaurant within its medieval walls await you.