Trentino Alto Adige: 
Bolzano

Hotels Restaurants Sights Shopping

When you’re in Bolzano, you might think you’re in Austria or Germany….less Italian than just about any town in Italy (that’s just my opinion)…..signs, architecture, food and wine have a distinctly Tyrolean flavor. They do call it the Sudtirol for a reason. The setting of the town is very pretty and I stick to the medieval center which on most trips when I visit Bolzano. My friends like it here as a first or last night when traveling to the Dolomites and the villages in that area. In the historic center I start at Piazza Walther. There are hotels, cafes, a monument to Walther (German poet) and the duomo. The Gothic duomo (14^th century) is made of pink sandstone, has a roof of colored tiles and a 16^th century campanile/bell tower. There are lovely frescoes and a beautiful pulpit inside. The Chiesa dei Domenicani (13^th century) has fine frescoes inside the church as well as in the cloisters. For strolling/shopping, I head to Via dei Portici, an arcaded street with shops. Further on, head to the Piazza delle Erbe (market) where you’ll find pretty palazzi, the fruit and vegetable market and the Fontana del Nettuno (Neptune’s Fountain). You’ll also find the Chiesa dei Francescani, a 14^th century Gothic church with a Nativity Altar (16^th century), stained glass windows and lovely cloisters. The Abbazia dei Benedettini di Gries is a Benedictine Abbey set amidst vineyards and gardens (think spa). There are a couple of castelli/castles in town: Castel Mareccio, Castel Sant’Antonio and Castel Roncolo (out of town and in a spectacular setting). Monday through Saturday are Market days in Bolzano.