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Towns and cities in and around South Tyrol |
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Bolzano/Bozen
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Bozen lies just 265 metres above sea level, along the Brennero/Brenner line in the centre of the holiday country South Tyrol. Even if not everything about the South Tyrolean capital pleases the eye, you find nature reach deep into its centre. On the sunny hills surrounding Bolzano/Bozen the combination of a mild Mediterranean climate and alpine raggedness have created an incredibly rich flora. Cypresses, olives and even palm trees grow in the lower valley. Downy oaks and hop-hornbeams grow on the slopes alternating with various types of dry grassland and rocky ranges. Agaves thrive along the promenades. Bolzano/Bozen enjoys an especially mild climate. With an average maximal temperature of 16.6 and minimal of 6 degrees centigrade it is a nice place to live in. Bolzano/Bozen is said to be the hottest Italian city in the summer and the coldest in winter.
The city of Bolzano/Bozen has something very particular. It lies in the midst of vineyards. More than a third of the municipal area is planted with vines. They surround Castle Maretsch as well as the old and renowned convent Muri Gries and the little church of S. Magdalena/St. Magdalena. It is in Bolzano/Bozen that the two autochthonous wines, Lagrein and St. Magdalena are grown.
A pleasure for both the eye and the soul: the view on Bolzano/Bozen and King Laurin’s Catinaccio/Rosengarten. Above the city, in the Dolomites, lies the legendary reign of the Dwarf King Laurin. In the sunset you can still see the roses of the enchanted garden glow.
www.gemeinde.bozen.it |
Bressanone/Brixen
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Should you have come to South Tyrol from the north you will probably have seen the first vineyards appear where the low South Tyrolean mountain range softly rises. That is where Bressanone/Brixen, the charming and interesting bishop’s town lies. Here, where the two rivers Isarco/Eisack and Rienza/Rienz merge, arts, culture, way of life and pleasure merge in an equally harmonious way.
The town of Bressanone/Brixen with its old lanes and its churches, the Cathedral, the Cloister with its Gothic frescoes, the former residence of the bishops, with its avenues and parks, its vineyards and fruit plantations, invites you to stay for a while. A good place to get to know the South Tyrolean way of life and tradition. The cool and sometimes rough charm of the North, the elegance of the South, this wonderful mix of the two extremes, makes up the fascination of Bressanone/Brixen, which is now both shopping town, a temple of pleasures and a place of great cultural and historical interest.
www.brixen.it |
Brunico/Bruneck
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The picturesque Brunico/Bruneck is the heart and soul of the green Valle Pusteria/Pustertal. To its south the Val Badia/Gadertal stretches towards the Dolomites, to its north the Val Aurina/Tauferer Ahrntal merges into the glacial world of the Zillertaler Alps. First officially mentioned in 1256, Brunico/Bruneck soon developed to the economic centre of the Val Pusteria/Pustertal.
With its surrounding parts Reischach, St. Georgen, Stegen, Aufhofen, Dietenheim, Percha, Luns and Amaten, the city of Brunico/Bruneck offers delightful cafés and restaurants as well as the famous city lane, one of the most beautiful shopping streets in South Tyrol.
www.comune.brunico.bz.it |
Merano/Meran
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After Bolzano/Bozen Merano/Meran is the second biggest town in South Tyrol and has achieved world-wide fame as a health resort. There is no real secret for its success because the Mediterranean climate can be felt by every visitor, the numerous castles can be seen from everywhere and the closeness to the iced three-thousanders cannot be overlooked. Some of the highlights of Merano/Meran are definitely the picturesque old town centre with its arcades, the Passer promenade and the Tappeiner path. But the thermal baths Merano/Meran, the world famous Gardens of Trautmannsdorf and the museum of the history of tourism have helped Merano/Meran to acquire its fame. The architecture of Merano/Meran is defined by Art Nouveau; arts and culture have found their home here. Once mainly known as health resort for the elderly, this image is clearly no longer.
www.comune.merano.bz.it |
Vipiteno/Sterzing
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Medieval flair and modern charme. This is how Vipiteno/Sterzing presents itself to the visitor. A small jewel in the midst of the marvellous environs of Campo di Trens/Freienfeld and Val di Vizze/Pfitsch. Meadows and woods, alpine pastures and glaciers, largely untouched nature. Here town and countryside are combined in the most beautiful manner. A place to linger, a small town for shopping and strolling and a piece of earth where you simply feel good.
www.sterzing.eu |
Glorenza/Glurns
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Glorenza/Glurns is South Tyrol’s smallest town. Actually, it is the second smallest town in the Alps. Only Rattenburg in North Tyrol is smaller. Glorenza/Glurns lies in the Val Venosta/Vinschgau, at the foot of the Passo Resia/Reschenpass. A particular feature of Glorenza/Glurns is the original and well-preserved town wall which divides the inner from the outer town. This nice town, which is definitely worth a visit, got the market rights back in 1291 and its old market square is still used for entertaining feasts and colourful markets. You might even happen to see a cow stroll through the narrow alleys on her way home to the cowshed – and she will look perfectly at ease. Picturesque arcades, the favourite spot of the cows, hidden backyards, Neo-Gothic facades and last but not least the market square with its fountain encourage you to stop and relax.
www.gemeinde.glurns.bz.it |
Verona
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Verona lies in the Veneto, in the north of Italy. Verona got famous due to the festival in the world-famous Arena of Verona. This arena was built around 50 A.D. and dominates the city till today. However, Verona is also one of the most-visited Italian cities as the old medieval part was declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in the year 2000. Elegant shopping possibilities, exceptionally beautiful squares, numerous street cafés and the old facades make Verona to a city that is definitely worth a visit.
www.comune.verona.it |
Innsbruck
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Innsbruck is the capital of Tyrol in Austria. It lies in the Inn Valley as is surrounded by magnificent mountains. As a university town, Innsbruck is characterised by the presence of youth and a fresh flair. The city lies on the North-South axis of the Brennero/Brenner motor way, it has an international airport and a big train station. About 190,000 people live in the city and its outer areas. 30,000 students and uncountable day-tourists need to be added to this number. Innsbruck is so popular because it does not only offer numerous sights like the historic part of town with its “Goldenes Dachl” (golden roof), the “Hofburg” (royal court) and the Maria-Theresien-Street, many museums, churches and castles, but also excellent shopping possibilities and cultural highlights in the various theatres. Innsbruck even has its own alpine zoo directly above the city - definitely worth a visit just by itself. 1964 and 1976 Innsbruck was venue of the Olympic Winter Games. 2012 Innsbruck will host the Olympic Winter Games for the Youth.
www.innsbruck.at |
Cortina d’Ampezzo
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Cortina d’Ampezzo lies in the Italian province of Belluno and has about 6,000 inhabitants. In 1956 it was venue of the Olympic Winter Games and it has been profiting from this event till today. An elegant centre with some chic shops and most important of all, marvellous mountains of the Dolomites surrounding it on all sides, are the characteristic features of Cortina, which lies in a big basin-shaped valley. In winter Cortina is a throbbing ski resort, in summer a rather quiet place by comparison. Lino Lacedelli comes from Cortina. Together with Achille Compagnoni he was the first to climb the K2, the second-highest mountain in the world in Karakorum.
www.comunecortinadampezzo.it |
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