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Capital city of the province of South Tyrol, Northern Italy
Photo: Mauro Mazzio (Boboseiptu (Chi è Bobo?)), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Bolzano (Italian) or Bozen (German), (Ladin: Balsan, Bulsan) is the capital city of South Tyrol, the German-speaking region in the northern part of Italy. Bolzano is the largest city in the region. Its archaeology museum is famous worldwide as the home of the alpine iceman "Ötzi". It is also known as the Italian Capital of Christmas thanks to its characteristic Christmas market. Bolzano's population is around 100,000 (140,000 including the metropolitan area). 25% of inhabitants speak German as their mother tongue; the population of German-speakers is much higher in the non-urban parts of the province (up to more than 90% in some areas), making the city and province officially bilingual.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The most famous and visited museum in South Tyrol. It's home of the Iceman Ötzi.
New building by Studio KSV Krüger Schuberth Vandreike from Berlin.
The main seat of the MMMs realized by the famous South Tyrolean mountaineer Reinhold Messner.
It explains the geological origins of the region and organizes a lot of interesting temporary exhibitions.
The oldest museum in South Tyrol.
important temporary art exhibitions.
One of the most important castles for non-sacred art in Europe with a scene of Tristan and Isolde. The castle was built in the 13th century and it has interesting temporary exhibitions.
A castle on the valley near the city centre surrounded by beautiful vineyards. Now it's a conference centre. Visits on Tuesday.
Built between 1708 and 1716 by the architect Francesco Pedrotti from Verona, it's an important piece of Baroque architecture. It holds the Mercantile Museum.
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).
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.
Concerts of the Gustav Mahler and European Union Youth Orchestra in Concert Houses and in the squares of the city, the International "Ferruccio Busoni" Piano Competition and the shows of Antiqua (Renaissance and Baroque music). Every summer.
A regional event of contemporary music and arts.
A dance/ballet event in summer.
International Jazz Festival Bolzano-Bozen
An important summer jazz festival.
A Richard Strauss festival held in January.
A song contest with participants under 26 held in May/June.
Stadttheater Bozen / Teatro Comunale di Bolzano
It is the biggest theatre of the region in importance and activity. It shows a lot of plays, opera, ballets and musicals. Plays in German and Italian.
Auditorium Bolzano
The concert hall holds classical music concerts. In summer it has a big activity with the EUYO, Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and the International.
Waltherhaus
It is the biggest German-speaking theatre of South Tyrol. It shows a lot of plays in German
It is a new theatre with plays and festivals in Italian language
It shows plays in German and Italian.
It is a very small theatre (99 places) but it's important for the large number of plays and cabaret in German, Italian and other languages.
Theatre with just 70 places in a courtyard behind the fruit market and well, the German name means Theatre in the Court. It shows plays mainly in German and in Italian.
Multiplex (7 screens, 1,500 capacity) with movies in German and Italian.
Small multiplex (3 screens, 417 capacity) movies in German and Italian. A lot of essay movies or in original language with subtitles (generally German, Italian or English). Movies for kids.
Organizes tours in order to discover Bolzano and surroundings by bike.
Pizza
Chinese cuisine
Cavallino Bianco
Famous restaurant near the fruit market with Tyrolean and Italian specialties and pizza. Credit cards accepted.
A small snack or a full meal.
Irish-owned pub with that traditional style of an Irish pub found throughout the small villages of Ireland. Large beer garden on the square ideal for people watching while sipping a pint of Guinness, Sky Sports, live music and karaoke.
Very nice Irish pub in the historical centre and also oldest Irish pub in town (est. 1964). Local and foreign beers, paninis, and toasties, smoking area inside,
One of the oldest pubs in the city. Under the arcades of the New City's central area.
Irish pub with restaurant in the Bolzano South area. Sky Sports & darts. Cheap.
Silbergasse 18 pub & restaurant in the historical centre.
Freiheitsstraße 44 in the New City. House-made waffle cones.
Club within 10-minute walk from the historical city centre. Crowded on weekends.
Club in the heart of the city.
Special guests, entertainment and dj music. The disco is in the South Bolzano area.
Entertainment, sometimes live music, alternative. The disco is in the South Bolzano area.
Special guests, entertainment, events.
The hostel is near the city centre and the Central Station.
In the city centre.
In the city centre
In the Gries district centre.
In the heart of Bolzano.
Business and tourist hotel in the fair quarter.
Small five-star hotel in the heart of the city. No restaurant - it's a so-called garni hotel.
In the city centre.
It is one of the oldest squares of Bozen and now like in the past holds the fruit market.
By plane
Airports within reasonable distance from Bolzano with scheduled flights include those in Innsbruck, Verona and Venice.
By train
All trains from Germany and Austria and other parts of Italy stop at Bolzano Central Rail Station. There are connections with several cities.
By bus
Bolzano is very well connected by bus with Central Europe. Bus connections are frequent from/to Germany, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Romania.
By car
If you are staying on holiday elsewhere in South Tyrol and there is rainy (or snowy) weather well, you shouldn't decide to go on a trip to Bolzano by car because 90% of the people like you have the…
By bus, train and cableway
Bolzano has an excellent public transport system, which includes buses, cableways and commuter rail.50.
By taxi
In Bolzano taxis are not so common, and sometimes at night getting a taxi can be difficult because there is no bus service and everyone will use them.
By bike
In Italy the city has one of the most developed network of cycle paths with about 30 km composed of 8 main routes. Guided tours are available. Maps are available in tourist offices and online.
By car
Driving inside the city makes no sense - the public transport system is more than enough for traveling inside Bolzano. In the rush hours traffic is intense.
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Bolzano (BZ) · Regional · BZO
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