Panoramic view of Bolzano Collage: Getty Images/ Giacomomo; Maya Jane via canva.com
From our editorial team
Bolzano is not just a city - Bolzano is a discovery. Anyone who arrives here realises that South Tyrol's capital combines apparent opposites into a harmonious whole.
In Bolzano, the Alps meet aperitivo, Gothic meets design, Tyrolean warmth meets Italian lifestyle. Between the alleyways of the old town and views of the Dolomites, trilingualism and regional cuisine, a city unfolds that surprises, seduces - and stays. Most guests stay for four to five days. It's not cheap here: Bolzano, or Bozen in Italian, is one of the most expensive areas in Italy for hotels and restaurants. At the same time, the region is one of the wealthiest in the country.
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1. three languages, one attitude to life
Bolzano is a multilingual city. German, Italian and Ladin can be found on street signs, menus and school timetables. But it's not just the language that connects people - it's the togetherness that is palpable. A "Grüß Gott" is followed by a "Ciao", and sometimes a glance is enough. Anyone who lives here knows that identity is not rigid, but is renegotiated on a daily basis - charming, respectful, lively.
2nd Waltherplatz - the stage of Bolzano life
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Waltherplatz is both a centre and a stage. Named after the minstrel Walther von der Vogelweide, the square is a meeting place, promenade and event venue. During Advent, it is transformed into a sea of lights - with one of the oldest and most beautiful Christmas markets in Italy. In summer? Sit under white parasols, drink a Lagrein, look at the cathedral - and forget the time.
3. the Ötzi effect
5,300 years old, tattooed and a little mysterious: the "Iceman" is Bolzano's most famous inhabitant - at least in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Ötzi lies there in a specially temperature-controlled chamber, accompanied by his last belongings: Copper axe, grass cloak, arrows. The museum turns archaeology into an experience - and the glacier man into a silent star of the city.
4. the arcades - shopping with history
Laubengasse is not a shopping street like any other. It is a medieval commercial centre in constant operation. Since the 12th century, small shops, boutiques, delicatessens and cafés have lined up under the arcades. It smells of fresh bread, leather and espresso. And if you're lucky, you might hear a street musician belting out Italian chansons between the Gothic arches.
5. the cathedral: gothic, mighty, mysterious
With its colourful tiled roof and filigree tower, Bolzano Cathedral is a Gothic beauty. But it is also worth going inside: Golden altars, frescoes from the 14th century and a treasure chamber with precious vestments tell the story of a city that has been at crossroads for centuries - politically, spiritually and geographically. The cathedral is not only a church, but also a monument to the in-between.
6. the gateway to the Dolomites
Bolzano is strategically - and spectacularly - located. In less than an hour you can reach natural paradises such as the Alpe di Siusi, Lake Kaltern or the bizarre rock theatre of the Dolomites. Whether hiking boots or mountain bike, rucksack or picnic blanket: the surrounding area is an outdoor Eldorado. And in the evening you can return to the city, which effortlessly combines nature and culture.
7th Ritten cable car: Ascent with a view
Since 1907, a cable car has connected Bolzano with the Ritten, a high plateau full of viewpoints, hiking trails and archaic tranquillity. Today, the cable car is modern and quiet - but the feeling remains nostalgic. Once you reach the top, a panorama awaits that even leaves Instagram users silent: Schlern, Rosengarten, Latemar - so close, so majestic, so surreally beautiful.
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8. a city with 200 castles on its doorstep
Bolzano is located in one of the regions with the most castles in Europe. Eppan, just a few kilometres away, has over 180 castles, palaces and ruins alone. The most famous route is the Three Castles Hike, which takes in Hocheppan, Boymont and Korb Castle - with spectacular views and places to stop for refreshments that offer more than just dumplings. Simply South Tyrol.
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9. wine that has character
Bolzano is also a wine town. Lagrein - a dark, full-bodied red wine - comes from here. The same goes for St. Magdalener, a velvety red with a fine spiciness. In and around Bolzano, winegrowers open their farms, invite visitors to taste their wines and tell of steep slopes, long summers and the art of bottling with patience. Wine is not a side dish here, but part of the biography.
10. the art of living in its purest form
Bozen/Bolzano is not a city to be worked off sightseeing. It wants to be experienced, felt and tasted. A morning market in the fruit square, polenta with game ragout at lunchtime, a walk along the river Talfer in the afternoon - and in the evening? Perhaps a concert in the city theatre or simply a glass of wine on the hotel terrace. Bolzano is not a destination you tick off your bucket list. It's a place that stays with you. And has a lasting effect.
