Holidays in Bolzano/Bozen and environs

History
The origins of this family of cobblers dates back to the 19th century
in Chiusa, where they’d opened their first shoemaker’s workshop,
Fill, in 1871. In the 20th century, one of the family’s son remained in
Chiusa, while the other moved to Bolzano to Piazza Gries where today
you can find Café Menz (see p. 147). The current owner’s grandfather
– Karl Fill – built the building of today’s Fill premises in 1961,
boasting space for a shop, show workshop, and an apartment. Since
2022, the third Bolzano generation has been running the business,
led by siblings Patrizia and Horst, while Werner (Karl Fill’s nephew)
and Waltraud, the second generation, still help out.
Stand-out traits
We know how important it is to wear comfortable shoes. Here
is where you can go the extra mile: the store sells special socks,
insoles, shoelaces and shoeshine as well as comfortable shoes for
women, men and children – and even babies! It boasts a vast range
of regular shoes, slippers, and mountain boots all united by the fact
they’re extremely comfortable to wear. Horst Steinhauser is the current
owner and completed his training as an orthopaedic specialist
and shoemaker in Austria. He then worked in Innsbruck and Munich before opening his workshop in the Gries neighbourhood 20 years
ago where he’s been “solving problems with his feet” ever since.

Sigmundskron is a symbol found in South Tyrol's early history. It was first mentioned in 945 and was built into a fortress in 1473 by Duke Sigmund. In 1996 the ruins were taken over by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-Bozen and in 2003 they were handed over to Reinhold Messner to be transformed into the Messner Mountain Museum. The preservation of the character and protection of the ruins was the main concern during the conversion building works. The steel constructions which were developed for this purpose were positioned at a distance with as few contact points as possible with the outer stone walls and the interior of the towers and rooms, so that these seemingly light architectural elements can be removed at any time. The design of these sections of the building has been kept as simple as possible, and they are clearly set apart from the historical parts of the building. This allows for a distinct demarcation of the old and the new.

The children´s playground is open the whole year and you can find it after our swimming pool and opposite the Hotel Belvedere.

As a jeweller, Rosella Bonaldi has quite the keen eye. So she must
have seen something nobody else did when, over 60 years ago, she
opened her store among a row of modern apartments behind which
only green fields grew. However, since then, Bolzano has spread to
the south and new blocks of flats have sprung up like wild mushrooms.
More apartments mean more people, and more residents
mean potential customers. Bonaldi had moved from Bergamo to
try her luck by opening her own business. Fortune must favour
the bold, for it is still alive and kicking – thriving, actually – now
managed by her daughters when she stepped down in 1996. Right
place, right time, even when the gold and precious jewels business
snowballed, she was helped by three sisters in the shop. So while
the shop is still run by women as in the past, it has unfortunately
suffered a change of fortunes, reminiscent of those old Hollywood
movies, due to the dramatic change in how people shop. Bolzano’s
first shopping centre opened ten years ago to much fanfare, which
translated to a 30% drop in business for smaller stores. A trend
compounded by the rise of digitalisation and the resulting change in
how people now favour online shopping compared to visiting brick
and mortar establishments.
The shop’s regular clientele spans three generations – but sisters
Elena and Silvia wanted to reach out to a new target market, especially
online consumers. Since then, they’ve made targeted investments
in their social media presence: their Youtube videos regale
people with details, facts, and trivia about diamonds, what is meant
by “pure gold”, and how to tell the difference between 24 karat
and 14 karat gold, or how to spot fake pearls from a mile away. And
believe it or not, you can also find them on TikTok and Instagram
showcasing their products, while Facebook is reserved for presenting
new products. Different media but all united by the family’s
knowledge and expertise.

This fountain is located near the bridge of Vadena on the main road in the direction of Vadena/Pfatten.

Two tennis courts and a padel court are available in the sports zone in Pineta/Steinmannwald. Reservations are required to use the facilities. Info: Tourist Info Laives

First documented in 1159, the ruins were destroyed many times due to fires and battles, and have always been rebuilt. The castle ruin today bears the name “Sauschloss”, which literally translated means “pork/pig castle”, as according to a legend a pork was thrown out of the castle.

The ruins are only 15 minutes walk from the restaurant Noafer in Cologna/San Genesio.

The sunny Plateau of Renon gives everyone the right moves to glide with ease on the ice, as our ice stock Players know. Slip on your skates and have a go on the ice rink and ice place of the Arena Ritten in Collalbo, on the ice place in Soprabolzano or on the beautiful idylicc lake of Costalovara.

The railway line Verona-Bolzano was completed during the first half of the 20th century, while the railway Station dates back to 1928 and is the project of Angelo Mazzoni, with different allegorical sculptural contributions by Franz Ehrenhöfer (representing electricity, steam and rivers). The "Frog Fountain" right opposite the Station was rebuilt following the original design of 1930, following its destruction after the bombings of WWII.

Urban planning considerations led to three parallel, elongated wings of varying heights, the two-story covered entrance which is situated on Lazzeriniplatz Square. Its use of the same materials: exposed concrete, steel and glass throughout, and consistent design, convey an architectonically heterogeneous environment of tranquility and space. From the entrance you walk into a spacious, light-flooded hall between the first and second wings, which reaches all of the floors. Underneath there is the sports hall, with stair towers at the ends. The glazed steel bridges, designed by Heimo Zobernig, allow for open access to the third wing and to the break area of the roof terrace.

Book your accommodation on the Ritten and the Guest Pass RittenCard is on us! Use the card to travel for free and receive many discounts on the sunny plateau of Ritten and in all South Tyrol
travel for free on the regional public transport network of South Tirol, included the Ritten train and Ritten cable car.
A daily return ride with the mountain cable car to the Rittner Horn one free admission for each
and numerous discounts and special offers for leisure activities free admissionto ice hockey games in the Ritten Arena.

The Südtirol Guest Pass RittenCard includes participation in various guided hikes and offers many other benefits:

• guided hike “The secrets of Ritten”
• Guided hike “Experience Ritten”
• Guided hike along the Kneipp path
• Guided herb hike “Mountain flowers & herbs on the Rittner Horn”
• Guided hike “South Tyrolean sky tour”
• Guided hike with the pleasure ambassador on the “Vine” wine trail
• Guided hike “In Freud's footsteps” on the Freud Promenade
• Apple experience, immerse yourself in the South Tyrolean apple world & tasting
• free visit to the historic Kommende Lengmoos from May to the end of October
• Access to the swimming pools in Oberbozen and Klobenstein as well as the lake pool at Wolfsgrubenersee
• Ice skating in the Ritten Arena
• free admission to the ice hockey games of the Ritten Buam SkyAlps ice hockey team in the Ritten Arena
• Guided winter and snowshoe hikes

In San Genesio at 1,435 m asl, located on the „Malgorer“ Salto, there ist the most ancient larch tree of the Salto high plateau.

Its age cannot be exactly determined.

This ancient larch tree is an an aesthetic feature in the middle of the wide larch groves on the Salto.

The lowest strongest branches form a candelabra shape. The tree crown could develop freely upward due to the lack of competition.

The once splendid tree has suffered damage due to the snow pressure in the winter of 2008/2009, numerous branches were pressed down and broken.

Height of the tree: 24m

Diameter: 2,03m

Circumference: 6,40m

Locality: Montoppio

Sea level: 1435 m

The good address in Sarentino for local specialties - sausage - cheese - food - confection.

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.

This street carries the Name of the Poet, lawyer and Mayor of Bolzano/Bozen during the second half of the 19th century. The street overlaps the old northern moat of the first medieval centre and the buildings on ist southern part correspond the the northern facade of the arcades. Especially during summer, the beginning of the street becomes a suggestive Corner of Bolzano: criss-cross from an original oper-bar on the fish Banks to shop, decorations and Restaurants, which create a Special and unique atmosphere. Numerous arches look down on the street, which contribute to the medieval hue. Number 25 corresponds to the entrance to the ancient Town Hall.

It was Mussolini’s idea to establish a memorial to the fallen soldiers of the First World War on the site where a monument to the Kaiserjäger had already been commenced. A collection of donations throughout the whole of Italy financed the new monument. However, the architect designed a victory monument in the style of Roman triumphal arches as apologia for the conquest-hungry fascists with its insignia and an inscription, which refers to the martial tradition of the Roman Empire. It was seen as a grave insult to German-speaking South Tyroleans. After lengthy negotiations between the province of South Tyrol and the Italian cultural ministry, the high-fenced-in monument opened, in the catacombs of the building, a permanent exhibition in 2014 about events that unfolded under two dictatorships from 1918-1945, in order to improve understanding and communication.

The shop with history and tradition in the heart of the medieval center. Everything for the cobbler: leather, furs, utensils, rubber, glue as well as leather and fur-care products. In addition, top branded shoes for the whole family and small leather goods.

The rather unattractive post office of the 1950s was converted into a passive house to be used as an administration building. The addition of two more stories improved its size, also in relation to the surrounding area. Next to the elegant station tower, the stairwell of this old building no longer fit in and was covered with solar panel elements during the conversion. The bulky body of the building was brought to life through various window designs, which allow for an interplay of shadow and light. The 3% extra costs spent on energy-saving technology for the building has paid itself within five years: this gold low-energy house only costs 45 euro per worker on heating, as opposed to the 270 euro buildings in category C pay. This is, in fact, the first office block in Italy that meets passive house standards. The interior, with its wide corridors for special uses, is light and friendly, using only the simplest materials.

At Bazzanella you can find various types of household items. Nails, coulours, pots & pans, glasses and more for everyday use.

The historic archades are the heart of the medieval Commercial centre, a title that it has conserved up to the present day, thanks to the unbroken chain of Shops which Stretch out before you, some traditional and typical and others more modern and elegant. The facades are a bright presentation of different architectural styles: the bay windows, the stucco decorations. The old Town Hall has some beautiful archways, which are expecially nice, which now houses the Headquarters of the Local History Archive, built with a ponted arch with some nice fresco decorations. The alleys which connect to the parallel streets are also interesting. Of special mention are those of the old Town Hall, now home to the Town Records Office, with pointed arches and pleasant decorative fresco effect. also of note are the alley which connect to the parallel streets that maintain the architectural style of the buildings around and abound in various activities (shops, warehouses, cellars, courtyards, workshops).

In terms of design, responding to Angiolo Mazzoni's imposing train station building (1928), on the opposite side of the street, was no easy task. This has been achieved to the point that the new building, like the train station, goes beyond architecture and is now an urban structure. Its undulated form, which is divided into individual houses, is determined by the surrounding urban spaces: by the semicircular station square on the front, by the rectangular Magnagoplatz, and by the Laurin- and Rittner Straße at the rear. The building itself is crossed by three radial passageways from the station square and has two inner courtyards. The facades on the ground and mezzanine floors are clad in white marble, the four upper floors in reddish porphyry. The interior spaces of the building are well illuminated; the design of the office departments is varied.

At the southern entrance to the Old City, this building creates a three dimensional town with a city gate, pathways and open spaces which connect the various business areas internally as well as vertically. The large glass surfaces of the otherwise smooth and forbidding aluminum and glass facade create an individual setting for the way into the city of Bolzano – the openness and exclusivity of commercial activities are recorded here. The corner building marks clearly the city's border; all that is missing is an adjoining building to complete this effect. The interior spaces are of an ideal temperature, using very little energy altogether. A closed office atmosphere is avoided by the transparency of the succession of rooms created by elegant glass walls and light corridors; teamwork is encouraged and the visitor is openly welcomed.

Anyone who approaches Bolzano/Bozen from the south along the A22 will see the Salewa building, to the right of the highway, a modern gateway to the city. Three office towers, with four, seven and twelve floors respectively, are set in a urban dialogue one with the other and with the surrounding mountain landscape. Through the freely formed designs as well as the facades of dark glass and gray aluminum, the building mass retreats and yet, at the same time, matches the colors of the mountain. In the seemingly unusually shaped building volumes made of a reinforced concrete structure with curtained glass and/or metal facades, South Tyrol’s largest climbing gym is housed in addition to the company warehouse and administrative offices. This structure adjoins a small recreational park with a garden area and a restaurant, which matches Salewa’s sporting goods production nicely.

 

PASSEPARTOUR is Bolzano's organisation of tour guides and couriers, that extend the choice available to tourists in our area by offering a wide variety of guided tours by bus, by train, by cable-car, on foot and  a vast range of guided tours by BIKE in Bolzano and in South Tyrol (with the loan of a brand bike included).

The story of the Benedictine Monastry of Muri Gries Dates back to the 13th Century, commissioned by the Counts of Morit-Greifenstein. It was first inhabitated by Augustinian Monks, then pillaged during farmer's war, destroyed during the Napolenic war and discontinuing during the Bavarian government. The curch ist dedicated to St. Augustin and houses important frescoes by Martin Knoller. Access permitted only to the inner gatter.

Behind the monastery garden rises the light facade of the Kapuzin Monastery, next to which the disguised new school building built in a grey sandstone sits unnoticed. A section of wall was added onto the old east-facing facade, behind which there is a corridor with classrooms that look onto the intimate monastery courtyard. The majority of the rooms had to be built underground due to the extremely limited space available. Illumination in these rooms has been created through skylights in the garden and sophisticated guided shafts of light. This directed lighting removes any trace of a cellar-like feeling, and allows for a highly concentrated learning environment. An elegant set of steel steps leads from the entrance hall to all of the floors; all of the corridors are colorfully decorated. An aesthetic symbiosis between the old and the new has been found for this place of teaching and learning.

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.

Museion and its bridge link the old Austrian and the new Italian neighborhoods of the city, creating a built connection to a new era opposite the divisive Fascist architecture of the victory monument. The stylistic idiom of the mostly closed building, wrapped in its aluminum armor and with its far-reaching right angles, opens onto both parts of the city with its glassed narrow sides, encouraging one to enter. These glass facades are transformed into projection screens in the urban setting when darkness falls. The purely white architecture takes over the clear rooms inside, without dominating: a function to serve diverse exhibitions. The two swaying parts of the bridge over the Talvera/Talfer River form part of the museum’s concept: they symbolize the crossover of the two cultures that coexist here.

This vocational school underneath Mount Virgl in Haslach was created through a competition in 1975. The compact building complex comprises four units: the three-part office and classroom wing, the two wings of the workshops, the auditorium and the gym. The concrete construction with exposed brick infill forms a very sustainable structure for which an expansion program was developed in the 1990s, which led to the addition of another story onto the previously built three-story class and office building. On the ground floor a meeting room for 150 people was built, with foyer and control room. At the same time, the technical infrastructure – heating, sanitary facilities, water treatment system with solar collectors – was renovated and upgraded. The addition of the new story matches the existing building structure, but is clearly recognizable as an extension.

The bike charging station in Oberinn on the Ritten is open 24 hours and free.