The Municipal Gallery is located in the former Dominican monastery and extends over two floors. The Municipal Departement of culture of Bolzano/Bozen organises regional and inter-regional exhibitions on art and cultural topics.
The Palais Mamming Museum, also known as the Merano Municipal Museum, stands as one of South Tyrol's oldest and most distinguished cultural institutions. Founded in 1900, it has been housed since 2015 in a beautifully restored Baroque palace on Pfarrplatz square.
Originally constructed in 1675 for the Freiherren von Mamming, the building is a striking fusion of historic architecture and contemporary design, offering an inspiring backdrop for the museum's rich and varied collection.
With over 100,000 objects and a Tyrolensia collection of 30,000 volumes, the museum offers an unparalleled journey through the history of Merano and the entire Tyrol region. The permanent exhibition unfolds across 27 thematic sections, guiding visitors through the epochs – from prehistory to the Middle Ages, Baroque art, and the rise of modernity.
Highlights:
An Egyptian mummy, providing a fascinating glimpse into the mysteries of ancient burial rituals.
A collection of Sudanese weapons from the estate of Slatin Pasha, an Austrian officer who made Merano his home.
The renowned "Meran" typewriter by Peter Mitterhofer, a key figure in the invention of the typewriter.
Napoleon's death mask, an impressive relic from the Napoleonic era.
Beyond these extraordinary historical artifacts, the museum also showcases works by prominent artists such as Friedrich Wasmann and Leo Putz, capturing the artistic evolution of the region. The collection is further enriched by minerals, fossils, and photographs, offering a comprehensive view of the region’s diverse cultural and natural heritage.
The Palais Mamming Museum is more than just a repository of history – it is a thriving cultural hub. It regularly hosts vernissages, readings, and various cultural events, making it a dynamic space for creativity and reflection.
For anyone with a passion for history, art, and culture, a visit to the Palais Mamming Museum is an absolute must. It not only offers profound insights into the past of Merano and South Tyrol but also invites visitors to discover the intricate connections between history and contemporary culture.
Entrance fees
adults € 6,00
reduced (seniors) € 5,00
Combi Ticket Palais Mamming Museum + The Prince´s Castle € 8,00
free admission for children
In September 2018, the museum structure Timmel_Transit was officially opened in occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Timmelsjoch road. It is designed to be a meaningful addition to the Pass Museum and to complete the whole museum concept Timmelsjoch-experience. It is housed in a former barracks of 1930. The topic: history about the construction of the Timmelsjoch road on the South Tyrolean side.
Free admission
Opening hours: end of May until the end of October (when the Timmelsjoch road is open to traffic) · daily 7 am to 8 pm
On Wednesdays you can find our weekly market on the Town Hall Square in S. Cristina where they offer fresh fruits and vegetables, cloths and other. The market is smaller in winter.
The South Tyrolean traditional costumes are renowned for their beauty. It is interesting that almost every village and town has its own costume. These pieces of clothing are worn at every festive occasion, such as religious festivities or at processions. During the time of Charles the Great, it was not permitted for farming folk to wear expensive clothing. People of the lower ranks of society were not allowed to wear more than a Loden jacket. The farmers had to wear clothes made of materials they could produce themselves. Expensive fabrics such as silk and brocade were reserved for the richer people in society. Only when Empress Maria Theresia came to power, was this law amended so that the population could wear traditional costumes of any style. This resulted in a variety of traditional costumes that are still used to this day.
Kastelruth costumes for men: Men wear a shirt, cardigan and jacket with trousers and costume shoes. Their hat is decorated with a carnation and some leaves. The top button of the cardigan and jacketremain open.
Kastelruth costumes for women: Women wear a long black skirt and a black velvet corset. During the winter, they also wear a black small cape and during the summer a white jacket. On top of these, there is a silver or coloured shawl with long fringes. With the jacket, they need to wear a blue apron and with the small cape a black, water-silk apron. In addition, they wear fashionable ribbons that look well with their shawl. Married women wear their hair up, with a silver hairpin and a type of stylish comb, which helps to keep their hair in a knot. Unmarried women wear pigtails that are arranged in a type of Gretl hair style and incorporate this with a black velvet ribbon.
The Church of St. Michael in Taufers/Tubre originally from the 14th century, has housed a religion museum since 2000. On display in the S. Michele Parish Museum are precious Gothic frescoes, and alongside over twenty works of sacred art, which mainly come from the eight churches in Taufers i.M. The highlight of the exhibition is late Gothic winged altar from the S. Michele's Church from around 1520.
In Moos/Moso you will find a museum experience with a particular character. In combination with an Information Centre of the Natural Park Texel group exhibition areas to settlement history of the background Passeier, snow mountain, natural history and geology offered. History and experience bunker as well as a Capricorn-enclosure complete the offer.
Amidst palm trees and promenades, in the heart of Merano, lies a place that brings to life a nearly forgotten chapter of the city’s history: the Jewish Museum and Synagogue. Housed in an elegant Art Nouveau building from 1901, this cultural landmark preserves the memory of a small yet influential Jewish community – one that helped shape Merano’s golden age. When Empress Elisabeth of Austria chose Merano as her spa retreat, the city soon attracted not only aristocrats and artists but also prominent Jewish families from Vienna, Prague, and Budapest. They brought economic vitality, built elegant villas, hotels, and sanatoriums, and became important patrons of art, science, and culture. Many ran thriving businesses tied to the spa industry. The Jewish contribution to Merano’s development is still visible today – for those who look closely, traces remain throughout the city, including at the Jewish cemetery. At the center of this rich legacy stands the Synagogue on Schillerstraße street, still an active house of worship and home to the museum’s moving permanent exhibition. Here, visitors can explore the lives of Jewish families in Merano – their beginnings, achievements, and daily routines, but also the painful chapters of persecution during the Nazi era, the devastation of the community, and the difficult rebuilding after World War II. A special highlight of the Jewish Museum is its collection of original ritual objects: Torah scrolls, Kiddush cups, and Chanukah menorahs offer a deeply personal glimpse into the religious and social traditions photographs, and first-hand accounts make the past tangible in profoundly human terms. The Synagogue also houses one of the few remaining Art Nouveau Torah arks in the world – an architectural rarity of exceptional beauty. For those who pause and listen, the museum speaks in quiet, intimate tones: of people who once strolled along the Passer River, stayed in refined spa hotels, and helped shape Merano’s cultural life. And of those who, even in the face of adversity, preserved their faith, their stories, and their community.
Today, the Jewish Museum is not only a place of remembrance – it is a space of dialogue and cultural exchange. Alongside guided tours, it hosts regular events that bridge the past and the present, inviting reflection and connection. For anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Merano, this quiet and remarkable place is a must. Tucked between the Passer Promenade and the Kurhaus, it reveals a chapter of history as moving as it is essential.
The visitor centre ‘naturatrafoi’ is situated in Trafoi at the Stilfserjochroad.
The exhibition offers interesting insight into the geology of the Ortler group and the survival and adjustment of flora and fauna to the extreme climate conditions in the high mountain region.
Water is the main theme at the visitor center aquaprad. After entering the facility, visitors can hear and see water. About 30 local fish species can be seen in fourteen spectacular tanks. In an impressive manner, visitors will receive insight into the local fish fauna – from mountain streams to rivers, from high mountain lakes to the floodplain.
The former mountaineers hostel next to the Hotel Post at the foot of the Ortler, also known as the 'Flea house', is now the site of a museum of Alpine sports curiosities, created by the top mountaineer Reinhold Messner. A collection of thirteen legendary mountaineering tales, ranging from Yogi Milarepa to Reinhold Messner himself, provides an informal history of Alpine sports.
Henrik Ibsen was a great lover of the once climatic spa. Today you can find a nice collection of fotos, documents and more of Ibsens vacation stay.
Open Monday to Friday morning and Wednesday afternoon.
Exhibition "Traces of history" the Great War in the old school in Sexten / Sesto:
Many areas of the Dolomites are in the process of setting up projects to enhance the historical testimony of the Great War. Sesto di Pusteria was both victim and protagonist of this tragedy. Sesto di Pusteria is the only place of Germanic language and culture belonging to the Austro-Hungarian Empire to find itself at the front line, undergoing forced evacuation and displacement, and then, together with other places of the South Tyrol, being annexed to Italy. This chance set of events makes Sesto an emblematic place to tell the history of this period, not only for the Tyrolean citizens of today but for all the inhabitants of Europe. The vicissitudes of the civilian population and of the soldiers during this extremely important moment in history have so far surprisingly been neglected, undoubtedly because of the upheaval following the end of the war and annexation to Italy. Given the considerable interest in the First World War that is now emerging in Europe, Sesto has unique and inestimable contribution to make. The Associazione Bellum Aquilarum (Bellum Aquilarum historical association) aims to save from oblivion the surviving testimony to this tragedy in order to preserve it so that it can be handed down to future generations, not only to the young people of Pusteria, but also to those living in places once belonging to the former Austro-Hungarian Empire that were the scenes of battle here. The tragedy experienced so deeply at Sesto and in Pusteria is askin to that of many other areas of Europe which were on the front line or which, after the war, witnessed the havoc brougth on by territorial annexation. The ensuing cultural, historical and political schism was immense; without doubt, these events changed Pusteria but also Europe itself, and today - in a European perspective enabling the age-old tensions issuing from the war to be overcome - preserving these memories can aid us in the construction of our common future.
At the tractor museum, 30 Porsche Diesels from various model years can be examined. An experience for young and old alike!
Every first Friday of the month from March to November at 3 pm there is a free tour (further tours available on request). Free admission, closed on Mondays.
The mountain mine in Villanders was one of the most important mining areas in Tyrol during the Middle Ages and is now one of the few mines in South Tyrol that is open to the public as a visitors ‘attraction. Explore the labyrinth of tunnels and immerse yourself in the fascinating mining history of Villanders, which goes back centuries.
The Villanders mine had a total of 16 tunnels covering an area of about 20 km, two-thirds of which were dug by hand and one-third with the use of explosives (black powder).
The extracted materials were: silver, lead (galena), copper and blende. The advancement of a miner, between 8 and 12 m per year, was performed mainly on his knees or supine. At the discovery of a mineral deposit of greater size it was necessary to enlarge the tunnel for the transport of minerals and waste rock. The average life of a miner was between 35 and 40 years.
Opening hours:
TUNNEL ELISABETH
Guided tour
- Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
- Sunday at 10:30
- Meeting point at the tunnel Elisabeth
- Duration: approx. 1,5 h
ELISABETH AND LORENZ TUNNELS
Guided tours
- in July & August on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
- Meeting point at the tunnel Elisabeth
- Duration: approx. 2,5 h
- In the months of July and August there is also a guidance on Wednesday at 10:30.
More information about the Silver Mine: https://bergwerk.it/
Museum Pons Drusi - Remains of the Roman Era
During the construction work of the Center for the Care of the Elderly, some extraordinary evidence of the Roman Era (1st century AD) was brought to light: a richly frescoed building with a columned hall and a massive structure, probably the base of a temple or a monument. To date, the archeological area is considered the most important testimony of Pons Drusi, i.e. Bolzano Bozen in the Roman era. The settlement stood at the intersection of the Roman road between the Val d'Isarco and the Val d'Adige along the Via Claudia Augusta.
Entry & admission
only with guided tours
€ 7 for adults
€ 5 for seniors aged 65 and over
€ 3 for children under 14 years
Maximum 15 people
Resevation required
Info & Booking
info@grieserhof.bz.it - T. +39 0471 097100
Manufacturing knitting wool, all the steps required from virgin wool to the finished product. Historical equipment and how they were used in wool processing. If there is a group of more than 4 people, it is possible to do a guided tour also on other days if requested.
Tuesday: guided tour with the magic of making something out of felt at 5 pm (registration possible on Tuesdays from 1 to 4 pm).
Cost: €8.
Since 1991 The Monastery Muri Gries holds an interesting nativity crib museum. Open every Saturday from 1st December to 2nd February 15-17 pm, from 3rd February to 30th November only the first Saturday of the month, in July and August on request.
The Ulten Valley Folklore Museum offers an excellent overview of the life of the farmers in the Ulten Valley.
Entering the museum, a film shot from eagle‘s-eye-view provides you with an unusual impression of the park. A 3D relief provides visitors with multimedia information concerning the park’s mountains, trails, refuges, lakes and waterfalls. A pendulum gives visitors a close-up look at how the mountains arose, while a kind of stone puzzle provides insight into the geological structure of the mountains. Visitor information systems give information concerning nature, the landscape and the evolution of the nature park region. And for kids there are fairy tales and legends from times past.
Special exhibition (6th May - 31st October 2025): The snakes of South Tyrol
The exhibition describes the eight native snake species of South Tyrol and explains their important role in the ecosystem. The exhibition gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about the way of life of these special animals and raises awareness for the protection of these fascinating animals.
The Stadt Galerie (City Gallery) located in the center of Brixen / Bressanone was renovated in 2019 and reoriented to contemporary works. Starting in 2020, it will be managed by the SKB. The City Gallery's new assignment is to promote, further develop, and communicate the personal and social value of now-art. In the future, the potential of historical art treasures as storehouses of memory in dialog with contemporary artists will be more-effectively conveyed. Art as a reflector of overall social and cultural processes thinks about social, political, technological, economic, and ecological circumstances. The SKB cooperates not only with the City Gallery but also with institutions and organizations in the province in order to develop synergies and to expand the network for the artists. A commission will appoint a new curator for the City Gallery each year whose job it will be to curate 4-5 exhibitions.
What nowadays functions on electricity, once upon a time was driven by watercraft. How this was made, and other interesting things about different handicrafts, you can experience in our mill museum. July–August every saturday with guide to the mills Meeting place: Aldino, 9 a.m.
Down the road of the kid park in Niederolang (Via Rienza) up to Mühlbach the are big stone with their signs that are about the thema of stones.
To the south of Bolzano, on porphyry rock, a vast castle arrangement, by the way, one oldest is in South Tirol. On account of her impressive situation, it is - as it is due to her beauty - also far away obviously. History: Castle Sigmundskron was called in the first historical mentions about 945 "Formicaria". In 1027 the German emperor gave the dukedom of Trento as well as the county to Bolzano to the bishop of Trento. In this manner the building went over in his possession and was used from now on as a seat of the Amtsmänner responsible for this territory and, moreover, still for high court meetings. An enlargement of the castle in 12. and 13. Therefore, Jhd. became necessary. Very pleasantly for the rulers of the area was the control of the navigation on Eisack and Etsch. The only entrance of Bolzano to Eppan could be closed up to the construction of the first bridge about 1200 easily. About 1473 the castle went over in the possession of Sigmund to the coin empires, princes of Tyrol. The lover of nice castles allowed to develop the arrangement immediately. As his most splendid construction the duke called this "castle Sigmundskron". However, soon afterwards Sigmund gets in financial difficulties. He must pledge his work, the castle slowly goes to ruin, because it is also not inhabited any more constantly. 1957: The next important event which takes place within these walls is the national rally against "Verwelschungsbestrebungen" (lot of Trento), i.e. against the disregard of the "Paris contract" about 1957. In 1976 an innkeeper's family raised for the first time the courage to renovate partially the castle to open the guest company in these romantic surroundings of course also at the same time. In 2006 The sacristan Mountain of museum of Firmian in the castle Sigmundskron/Firmian is opened. Architectural style: The castle is built mainly in the highly medieval style. The slender donjon in the untercastle shows Late-Gothic rebuildings. From the 13th century is the residential tower with round arch door as well as round arch windows. One recognises two gun turrets by the up to 5-m-thick curtain wall in the upper precastle, among the rest, moreover, you find a living - and economic building in the court (the place of the today's restaurant). Specific features: Highly - and untercastle are unambiguously separated by a rock formation, a natural barrier which one often does not find thus. Duke Sigmund made the castle by stonecutters decorate, it had to go nicest in his collection. The different dimensions of the loopholes also do not correspond to the norm of that time.
The Val dl'Ert is conceived as a work in progress, in fact it is enriched with new works after each edition of the SMACH Biennale, which this year will open on July 8, 2023 presenting 10 new installations.
Admission is free and the park can be visited independently every day of the year. You can also contact SMACH for individual or group guided tours.
In 1776, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria built a masonry embankment in Lagundo near Merano. This was meant to serve as protective bulwark against flooding of the Adige River. This masonry can still be visited today. Not far away, on the left bank of the river, are the ruins of an ancient imperial Roman road bridge along the route of the original "Via Claudia Augusta". Construction of the bridge dates to the first century AD. Today, the ruins of the bridge have the status of protected monuments. At the head of the bridge there is also a small shrine and chapel.
The Völlan Farming Museum is located in a beautiful annex of the vicarage that once housed fire wood, the laundry, a pigsty and the baking oven and nowadays impressively illustrates pre-industrial farm life to visitors.
In front of the entrance you can already see various sandstone vessels, baskets for piglets and other farming tools. The two-floor museum consists of four rooms. The first one presents an original living room and through clothes and everyday objects gives insights into a farmer's life in the 18th century.
Many utensils like a butter churn, a Keschtnriggl (a traditional chestnut basket), sausage presses and pasta machines are on display in the adjacent kitchen, whereas the next room presents tools of all kinds that mainly were hand-made by the farmers of the pre-industrial era.
Nothing is better than to learn from history by living it. That is the reason why the Farmer's Museum in Völlan not only is meant for grown-up visitors but for students and children too, because ultimately it gives us insights into the hard everyday life of times long past.
Here you get an impression of the huge diversity of tools a farmer would need and use back then. The upper floor houses tools and equipment for spinning and weaving like a loom, a reel, etc. The mill in the last room, however, originates from Oberinn on the river Ritten near the capital of Bolzano/Bozen.
