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A controversial monument on the other bank of the Talfer river and was built by the Fascist Italy in 1928 as a nationalist symbol and for celebrate the Italian victory during World War I. On the front, written in Latin, is a sentence which affirms the Italic superiority over the Germanic people. During the 1960s and 1970s some South Tyrolean activists attempted to damage the monument but without effects. In 2002 the city administration wanted to reconcile the population of the two ethnic groups changing the name to Peace Square. The majority of the Italians didn't appreciate the gesture and opposed. The Italian right-wing parties (for the name dedicated to the Italian victory during World War I) wanted a referendum which was won by the old name. Now the tables display the name Victory Square (formerly Peace Square). Now the monument is under protection of the Italian state. There is a table on the way from the Talfer Bridge that explains how the City of Bozen feels about the monument. The Italian Ministry for Conservation of Ancient Monuments would not allow the city to post the tables on the grilles in front of the Monument.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Walther Square is called the gute Stube or salotto buono (good parlour) is the most famous square of the city. The square is surrounded by buildings in Austrian style. At centre of the square is situated the statue of Walther von der Vogelweide. The square was built in 1808 during Bavaro-Napoleon's domination. The square changed name five times: Maximilan square dedicated to the King of Bavaria (1808-1815), Johannes square dedicated to the Kaiser's brother Archduke Johann (1815-1901), finally Walther square (1901-1925). During the Fascist period the name was changed and the square took the name of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. In 1946 the name changed for the last time (Our Lady square) before becoming Walther square in 1947. Walther came back to the Walther square only in 1984. In 1985 the first McDonald's in Italy opened on Walther square, in the place of the current Stadtcafé (a more modern McDonald's is now located in South Bolzano/Bozen).