Culture of Bolzano. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Without a doubt, the historical part of the city is the most interesting for tourists. Piazza Walther is the heart of Bolzano. The magnificent square was constructed in 1808. For many years, it was the place of the most famous events in the life of the city. There are several magnificent historical buildings near the square, with the Cathedral being the most famous of them all. The building of the gorgeous church started yet in 1295 and ended only at the beginning of the 15th century. Initially, the building was constructed in the Roman style, but the construction works were put on hiatus. After a long pause, building works were finally resumed by another team of architects in 1340, so nowadays the cathedral is a beautiful example of the gothic style. The height of the cathedral’s bell tower is 65 meters. The façade is decorated with fabulous sculptures, and the décor of inner premises simply strikes with its elegance.

Colle Mount is also a wonderful place that is also home to several interesting landmarks. For example, tourists are recommended to attend Calvario Church that dates back to the 17th century. Virgolo Church, which dates back to the 12th century, is a no less striking landmark, but the church is currently closed for reconstruction purposes. The Archaeological Museum of Bolzano is a family-friendly venue that is very interesting to attend. The museum exhibits many unique artifacts, such as a mummy, the age of which is 5300 years, as well as precious items found in Tyrol. The exhibition of the museum is conveniently located on four floors of the building and includes hundreds of interesting items.

Bolzano suburbs are also rich in numerous architectural and historical landmarks. Tourists will find it interesting to attend Abbazia di Novacella. It is a large architectural complex that dates back to the 12th century. Halls of the magnificent monastery are decorated with skillful paintings, and virtually any piece of furniture and décor is a precious museum artifact. It is worth noting that the architectural ensemble is a unique combination of different styles. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Not far away from the historical center of the city, tourists will find the ancient fortress of Sarentino. The beautiful castle is located on a high hill that offers stunning panoramic views of Bolzano. A beautiful garden surrounds the architectural landmark. In the 13th century, the fortress was an important protective facility for traveling merchants. Nowadays, thousands of travelers come to admire the fabulous building. Piazza delle Erbe is an important excursion object. Eight centuries ago, local farmers gathered there to sell their vegetables and greens. Nowadays, the Neptune Fountain, which was constructed in the end of the 18th century, is the main decoration of the square. In accordance with the historical data, a pillory stood instead of the magnificent fountain in the past. Not far away from the square, tourists will find the historical Al Sore Hotel, which had many famous guests, including Goethe, Mozart, and members of royal families.

Bolzano is incredibly rich in museums. Tourists will easily find venues dedicated to different themes. The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology is a fantastic place suitable for everyone interested in the history of the province. The exhibition covers the period starting from the Palaeolithic age to the Carolingian epoch. Many come to the museum to see Ötzi – an ancient iceman with the full set of clothes and equipment.

Civic Museum is a great place for all art lovers. The exhibition includes approximately 200 works from the 8th to the 20th century. It should be noted that this museum exhibits a temporary exhibition at the moment as the entire exhibition will be available to visitors in coming years. The South Tyrol Museum of Natural History is one more museum that deserves a visit. It is open in an ancient house – the former office building of Emperor Maximillian I. The museum exhibits many interesting artifacts, such as the dolomites collection, but most visitors come to look at the large marine aquarium.

The Castel Roncolo (or Schloss Runkelstein) has a rich history. The atmosphere of antiquity reigning here perfectly blends in with the beautiful interior of the castle. Wonderful frescoes, richly decorated halls – all these only contributes to immersion in this atmosphere. The first references of the castle dates back to the year 1237. After this, the castle was rebuilt several times. Above all, beautiful views of the city are open up from here. Another important historical monument is the Monumento alla Vittoria, which you can find next to the castle. This is a monument in honor of the victory in the Second World War – or to be precise, in honor of the fact that the victory of fascism did not take place. The inscriptions in Tyrolean-Italian, German and Andean languages are interesting.

A wonderful monument of gothic architecture is the Duomo di Bolzano built in the 15th century. This is the most important church of the city. At the same time, the cathedral does not look gloomy or severe, does not weigh upon the city, but is as if part of it. Among other religious monuments, the Chiesa dei Francescani should be distinguished. This church stands out with its beautiful interior, frescoes and sculptures. Cappella Domenicani is another interesting place to visit; here you can see amazingly beautiful examples of fine art. The church was built in 1272 in the gothic style, and is one of the oldest in the city. Yet another religious monument is called Chiesa Abbaziale di Sant'Agostino, which is notable for its rich decoration.

An excellent walk can be made through the Reschenpass. In winter you can go skating, snowboarding, and skiing here. The main attraction of this place is the tower Kirchturm von Altgraun, rising above the terrain, like a defender of the city. Antico Municipio is a very beautiful architectural monument. Once upon a time, the Town Hall was situated here (from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 20th century). The building was originally built in the gothic style, but later rebuilt in the “baroque” style. Today it houses the city archive of the gates to the Dolomites of Alps (as Bolzano is often called for being close to them).

Among the museums in Bolzano there are several unique ones. For example, in Museo Archeologico dell'Alto Adige there are many interesting archaeological findings related to the past of the city. The exhibits of the Museo Mercantile will appeal to those who love history – here items and documents of Tyrolean merchants of the 17th-18th centuries are presented. The furniture is also preserved, so that the atmosphere of that time is recreated. The Krippenmuseum Muri-Gries, which dates back to 1406, is another interesting museum to visit. Here you can get acquainted with the life of Augustinian monks.