Location: Bolzano
Top Things to do in Bolzano
The 10 Best Things to Do in Bolzano, Italy
The capital of Italy’s northernmost region of South Tyrol, Bolzano (Bozen in German) has only been Italian since World War I, and its character remains distinctly Germanic. At the center of the town, Piazza Walther is named for a 13th-century German minstrel. The town’s most famous resident, Ötzi the Iceman, dates from about 3300 BC and now rests at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. The striking new building for Museion, the city’s modern and contemporary art museum, opened in 2008.
Restaurants in Bolzano
1. Puez-Geisler Nature Park
Overall Ratings
5 based on 163 reviews
Reviewed By oacherle - Bolzano, Italy
The Nature Park is Puez-Geisler is of the most beautiful sites in the Dolomites. There are lots of trekking paths for every kind of physical condition and you can really get close to the amazing Mountains without long walks. Animals, rare flowers and plants make the park not just attractive for geologists but for everyone loving the nature.
2. Cable Car Renon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Renon's new cable car opened on May 23, 2009, offering a whole bunch of fantastic advantages for vacationers and local commuters alike: a generous schedule, short travel time and easy access. It's a true gem. It only takes 12 minutes for the gondolas to move from Bozen/Bolzano to Oberbozen/Soprabolzano - they depart every 4 minutes, so there's practically no waiting time.
Reviewed By PeterT652014 - London, United Kingdom
This was a must do on our recent visit to Bolzano.We visited in 2013 so were already aware of the fantastic views from the cable car.If you are visiting this magical place make certain this ride is on your list of to dos.Enjoy !!
3. South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
The exhibition of the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology consists of a collection of the most important archaeological findings of South Tyrol, like the world famous chalcolithic ice mummy called "Ötzi, the Iceman" who was found with all his belongings on the glacier in 1991.
Reviewed By riceland - Asheville, North Carolina
Chance of a lifetime to see the Iceman and it is not be missed. Even if you are not into ancient man this man and his clothing, tools, etc is a must see as it is the only place in the world to see it.
4. Bozen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By GNasser - Miami Beach, Florida
We were here for my husband’s work I was surprised at this beautiful city! Sorrow fed by Castles anywhere you look! Amazing arquitectura throughout. Filled with little restaurants cafes and shops mixed-in there ugh the cultured filled streets! The wineries throughout really worth to visit!
5. Naturmuseum Sudtirol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 114 reviews
Reviewed By Lisa P - Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
This is mainly a childrens museum. It focuses on wildlife and alpine geology. It is somewhat small but really very charming. They have an excellent, huge ant farm which I could have spend hours examining. There is also a small gift shop. The ladies at the ticketing are are very nice, friendly and helpful. It takes about 45 minutes to tour. Great little museum if you have small children.
6. Castel Roncolo - Schloss Runkelstein
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 483 reviews
Reviewed By westy54 - Sydney
The castle, which was built during the 13th century, is located on a rocky outcrop that overlooks Bolzano. It is about a 10 minute drive from the Piazza Walther to a car park below the castle then a steep 10 minute walk up to the Castle gate. Once inside there are also quite a number of stairs to navigate to see the frescoes.
We caught the free shuttle bus that runs from Piazza Walther and return approximately every half hour. Entry was free with the Ritten Card. Unfortunately there were only guides/floor plans in Italian and German and most of the explanatory information on the displays was also only in these two languages.
The majority of the frescoes are located on the first and second floors of the main building and the first floor of a second building. The frescoes are significant as they do not portray religious scenes, more life in general during the 14th century showing what people wore at a variety of different events, what meals they ate, games they played etc. There is also a series of frescoes in the second building on Tristan and Isole. As you walk along a section of the castle wall to gain access to the second building you are afforded some excellent views of Bolzano and the surrounding countryside.
In a third building there is an enormous collection of coins from the Romans until the 20th century.
Well worth a visit if you can handle the walk up and the stairs.
7. Cappella Domenicani
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 126 reviews
Reviewed By pintos_10 - Graz
The Chiesa Dei Domenicani in Bozen (Dominikanerkirche) is one of the most important churches in South Tyrol. Its art historical perspective is gained by a small chapel which contains important frescoes of a follower of Giotto. A direct influence from the Arena chapel in Padova can be seen in these paintings.
8. Piazza Walther
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By westy54 - Sydney
This is a reasonably large piazza with the Duomo in the corner at one end - across a busy street, buildings containing restaurants, with outside Seating, and shops around the other 3 sides and a Fountain in the middle surrounded by flowers. Perhaps one thing setting it apart is the surrounding hills.
Picturesque, yes. But then similar to dozens of others in Italy and the rest of Europe.
9. Messner Mountain Museum MMM Firmian
Overall Ratings
4 based on 383 reviews
Reviewed By CleopatraBunny - Flagstaff, Arizona
Wonderfully curated collection of Reinhold Messner's artifacts, art, and religious shrine objects symbolizing the heart of climbing. Fairly expensive and parking is not free, but those who follow (or engage in) climbing will find this fascinating. The castle compound also is interesting to see, and the views of Bolzano and surroundings are top-notch from here.
10. Duomo di Bolzano
Overall Ratings
4 based on 639 reviews
Reviewed By westy54 - Sydney
This Cathedral dates back to the 12th century but it is in the 14th century when, this originally Romanesque church, received a Gothic makeover both externally and internally that resulted in the structure that we largely see today.
The exterior of the church is interesting being built in both red and yellow sandstone with a green, yellow, white and black tiled roof, but apart from the steeple, which was added in the early 16th century, it is largely unattractive.
Internally the Cathedral is cavernous with 3 vaulted stone Gothic naves. Apart from some very faded and badly eroded frescoes on the walls, believed to have been completed in the 14th century by students of Giotti, a couple of the paintings in side chapels and the ornate main altar, there is very little to marvel at.
Worth a quick visit if nearby.
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