Historie a kultura Bolzana

The St Anthony’s Church in Collalbo dates from the 17th Century. This church, and also the one in Maria Assunta was built for the use of the summer visitors. Indeed this church should really not have built at all for the church in Longomoso is only a few minutes on foot from Collalbo. But the citizens of Bolzano took themselves to the Ritten court house and presented their case thus: „We need the church in Collalbo not only from our christian zeal and as a means of furthering the praise of God, but also as a comfort and benefit for our souls and as a convenience so that during the summer months it is easier for us to attend Mass more often.“

At the beginning of the Sarntal Valley you'll find Runkelstein Castle, on the northern outskirts of town. You can easily get there on foot walking the lush green Talfer promenade or using a bike by taking the bike path. You can also hop on number 12 bus (Sunday Nr. 14), as well as the free shuttle departing from Walther Square (for further information contact Bolzano's Tourism Office). At the foot of the castle you'll find parking space for cars and bikes. Built in 1237 on a jutting edge of rock, the castle has been worked on and enlarged many times over and it boasts a collection of beautiful frescoes, depicting life scenes from court, hunting parties, knightly tournaments and scenes from everyday life. Literary depictions are not missing, as they also illustrate the adventures of Tristan and Isolda and those of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. It is the biggest collection of profane frescoes and the best preserved one of the Middle Age. There are always some interesting cultural events going on at the castle, wich from time to time liven up the halls and court of Roncolo. A restaurant offers the chance to taste local dishes in a medieval setting.

Haselburg Castle is accessible to the general public as a restaurant and as a party and reception venue (opening times of the restaurant). To get there you have to pass through the neighbourhood of Haslach: a steep path will take you to the rocky lookout on which the castle is perched (with parking space). Nice view on the Etsch valley and on Bolzano/Bozen itself looking North (Salten plateau, Sarntal Valley, Ritten). It contains frescoes from 1500.

In Aldino, a small town on the Reggelberg in South Tyrol, on 1200 m above sea level the Egger farm can be found. Together with his family Nikolaus Lantschner has been overseeing the farm since 1998. The production of healthy food products has always been his primary goal. They produce free range eggs and also the suckler cow husbandry has become a vital element to the Egger farm.

The Late Gothic parish church St. Lukan with Romanesque Tower is located in San Lugano -Trodena in the Nature Park.

The limekiln in Truden is a kind of kiln where in the past people used to produce quicklime from limestone. The process of lime burning was hard work, but had also some positive aspects: Young and old often met at the limekiln to celebrate the successful lime burning.

Quite exceptionally and thanks to the cooperation with the Parish of Central Churches in Bolzano, the Touring Club of Italy and the Bolzano Tourism Board, this tiny church opens the doors to the visitors. The late-Romanesque Church of St. Martin in Kampill, consecrated in 1180, boasts prestigious frescos of Bolzano's pictorial art.
During the special openings the loading zone on Via Innsbruck Straße is suspended. Due to the lack of pedestrian crossing, reaching the Church by public transport is recommended.

The gothic building Dates back to the befinning of the 15th century and houses the Teutonic order. The elegant building is well worth a visit for ist collection of coats of arms, mortuary shields, tombstones and flags of the members of the order dating back to the 16th and 19th century.

The Parish Church San Biagio was built in the 11th century in romanic stile. During some conversions till the 16th century it becames a Gothic church. Particularly impressive is the statue of the Merciful Mother inside the church.

The limekiln in Truden is a kind of kiln where in the past people used to produce quicklime from limestone. The process of lime burning was hard work, but had also some positive aspects: Young and old often met at the limekiln to celebrate the successful lime burning.

Laimburg Castle was built in the 13th century by the Lords of Laimburg as a residence and was intended to secure the transition over the “Kreithersattel”, the connection between the Val d'Adige valley and the Oltradige/Überetsch valley. Originally, the castle was built in Romanesque style and later, in 1342, extended in Gothic style. Towards the end of the 15th century the castle was abandoned and fell into disrepair. In 2002 the castle was completely restored and secured and is freely accessible ever since.

The parish church of St. Catherine and St. James is located at the southwest end of the village and was built in the 15th century. It is a simple neo-gothic building, where at the end of the bell tower instead of the typical neo-gothic pyramid, is a “copper helmet”.

The Museum is located in the birthplace of the Bishop Johannes Baptist Zwerger. It illustrates the life of the clergyman with pictures of his life and quotations of his autobiography and sermons.

The Church of the holy cross was foundet in 1896 in gotic style.

First documented mention of a church in Aldein was in 1309, according to excavations it was a Romanesque church with two apses. The masonry dates back to the 12th Century back. In the second half of the 15. cwntury a new church was built which was expanded to the west in 1841/42. A special feature is the pulpit, which is on the roof of Moses with the tablets of the law and above it the St. Spirit shows and the life-size statue of the Heart of Jesus.

The narrow-gauge railway: The Ritten railway was opened on 13th August 1907. For the first time it was possible to cover the just under 1,000 m difference in altitude from Bolzano up to the Ritten effortlessly. Quick, reliable and not subject to changes in weather the modern railway carried not only passengers but also goods up to the Ritten. Up until the 1960s the rack and pinion railway was the lifeline of the Ritten. Today all year round it joins up the localities of Oberbozen, Wolfsgruben, Lichtenstern and Klobenstein. In order to cope with the requirements of the “Südtirol Takt” (regular-interval timetable), the rolling stock has been extended. The course is set for the future. The Ritten railway is one of South Tyrol’s treasures. It is an important public means of transport, a sought-after excursion railway and a technical railway rarity passengers have become fond of and that will also bring a lot of pleasure in the future to those who have taken it to their hearts.

The modest little church in Maria Saal was built in the mid-1600s and then was expanded in 1719. According to a local legend the miraculous image above the altar had originally hung in a sheep barn. Due to an ever-growing number of pilgrims then finally a church was built. Like many other churches, this one too was closed down under the reign of Joseph II. In 1847, it was re-inaugurated by prince bishop Johannes Tschiderer who celebrated his first mass in Collalbo on August 3rd 1800. Tschiderer was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1996.

The rather particular motive, a fresco of the Madonna with an umbrella, in the round arch between presbytery and nave has contributed to this pilgrimage church’s popularity. The fresco was painted by Alexander Dejaco as an expression of gratitude for his unscathed return from World War I, leaning on the prayer “Under thy shield and protection we seek refuge, o holy mother of God”. This painting also takes on a special meaning as the Renon mountain is a rather arid area, thus its farmers would pray to the Holy Mother for rain in times of great draughts and water scarceness.  

Consecrated in 1180, the small church is Bolzano/Bozen's pride and joy. The simple central architecture is enriched by the beautiful bell Tower with mullioned Windows with two and three lights from the early years of the 14th century. The interior artwork is splendid: artists from Giotto's "vagabond" movement introduced a new plastic style and an astounding fresco technique, which reveal extraordinary interpretative and artistic capabilities. For information and guided tours please ask the Tourism Board (Via Alto Adige - Südtiroler Straße 60).

That's one of the most beautiful “green areas” in our city: a place for both tourists and locals where you can spend time relaxing and having fun with your children. There is also a snack bar.

This church is first mentioned in 1256. It is beautifully placed on a glacially eroded crag. It is thought that at one time it was a place for sacrifices, perhaps in Celtic times. The church can only be seen from the outside or through the window. 

The St. Nicholas church in Mittelberg is first mentioned in 1289. This church was enlarged in the Gothic style in 1400 and has kept its appearance from that time. The tower is somewhat later than the church and was probably built in the 14th Century. It is made of natural stones laid in regular patterns. Possibly in 1400 the upper levels were altered to the Gothic tyle and the existing windows date from that period. In 1744 a rather large onion dome was added. It does not fit the building but is still quite pleasing. Another reason for building the church was the competition between the summer visitors to Klobenstein and those of Maria Himmelfahft. In Klobenstein they did not wish to be behind the people who were building their own church in Himmelfahrt at the time.

The small chapel was built in 1867 and consecrated in honour of the picture of grace Maria Hilf in Innsbruck. In the chapel there are sculptures of Peter and Paul, Isidor and Hubertus. The chapel was last renovated in 1994.

The Museum of Nature South Tyrol lies in the ancient administrative Headquarters of the Emperor of Austria, Maximilian the First. The variety of South Tyrolean landscape is exhibited on a surface of 100 square metres, with special regard to the Birth of the Dolomites. The main attraction is the marine aquarium, as well as the temporary exhibitions.

On "Wallneregg-Bühel", where robbed graves can be visited; some burial objects have been found in the moss. On the top of the "Bühel" you can admire the remains of an altar more than 3 m high, which served as a burnt offering place from about 1500 to 750 BC.

This church was probably built between 1220 and 1225. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It has been very much altered over time and in 1510 was enlarged in the Gothic style. The tower, which is not very tall, was probably first erected in 1300 and shows signs of the coming Gothic style, as do the slightly pointed tower windows. The tower was not extended in 1510 and so today makes rather a modest impression

The blue flower of Anterivo/Altrei

The variety of Blu Lupine known as "Altrei Coffee" is specific to the area in South Tyrol, and is connectend with numerous exciting stories. For dacades, this plant yielded a coffee which - when mixed with barley or wheat - was a popular drink sold by the village womenfolk. To be exact, the "coffee bean" of Anterivo/Altrei  is neither a bean nor a coffee:lt isa lupine (botanical name:Lupinus pilosus - meaning "hairy lupine") referrend to in the local dialect as "Voltruier Kaffee.

"Altrei Coffee" is a plant which grows to a height of up to 120 cm. lt grows vertically, and forms taugh twigs. the leaves are coverend with silky hairs. The glorious blossoms are grouped together in bunches on stems about 5-15 cm long. The flower corolla has a bright blue color with yellowish white and occasional pink points

Lupines belong to the family of legumes (Leguminosae) and are thus related to such garden vegetables as beans and peas.

The hotel and restaurant of Anterivo/Altrei offer their guests a variety of culinary delights from Altrei coffee/Lupine.

Info: +39 0471 882077 - +39 0471 869078
Contact: Ludwig Depaoli - Tel. +39 333 531 2643

On the northern side of Bolzano face to Runkelstein Castle lies the antique ruin of Rafenstein castle. 

In the St. Georg and St.Jakobs Church in Soprabolzano you can admire beautiful murals from the late 13th century.