Bassa Atesina and Valle Isarco

<< Trentino-Alto Adige

The valley crossed by the Adige river south of Bolzano is called Bassa Atesina (Unterland in German), and it is a renowned wine-making region. Northeast of the provincial capital is Valle Isarco (Eisacktal in German, Val d’Isarch in Ladin), the valley crossed by the Isarco river, flanked by towering mountains and plateaus. Various historic towns are located in these valleys and among the mountains, most notably Bressanone.

Aldino/Aldein

Aldino (Aldein in German) is a village in South Tyrol, located south of Bolzano. It is best known for the beautiful natural environment of the surrounding mountains.

Bletterbach Canyon

Bletterbach (or Rio delle Foglie) is a stream that flows through the mountains south of Bolzano, forming a canyon (Gola del Rio delle Foglie/Bletterbachschlucht). The unique rock formations of this area display the entire geological history of the region and contain numerous fossils. The area is included in a natural park and crossed by various footpaths.

Val Gardena/Gherdëina/Gröden

Val Gardena (Gherdëina in Ladin and Gröden in German) is a valley among the Dolomites of South Tyrol. Officially trilingual, it is mostly inhabited by Ladin speakers, and visited by tourists for its unique culture and breathtaking landscapes.

Museo della Val Gardena/Museum Gherdëina/Museum Gröden

This museum in Ortisei/Urtijëi/St. Ulrich is an exhibition on the unique environment and Ladin culture of Val Gardena. It houses various artworks including some traditional local wooden sculptures, and it also features sections on the history and nature of the valley.

Chiusa/Klausen

Chiusa (Klausen in German) is a small town in South Tyrol, located along the Eisack river south of Bressanone. It is best known for its historic monastery.

Säben Abbey

The Säben Abbey (Monastero di Sabiona/Kloster Säben) is a historic Benedictine monastery located on a hill overlooking the town of Chiusa. For centuries the area was the religious center of the entire region, until Bressanone took over as the main town. The medieval palace of the bishops was destroyed by a fire in 1535, and the current building was erected in the 17th century. After a long decline, the last nuns left the abbey in 2021.

Bressanone/Brixen

Bressanone (Brixen in German) is one of the main towns of South Tyrol, located in a valley northeast of Bolzano. The area was settled in prehistory but Bressanone emerged as an important religious center in the 10th century, becoming the capital of a large diocese. This was the golden age of Bressanone, ruled as an independent prince-bishopric that ultimately was absorbed into the County of Tyrol and then Austria. Bressanone joined Italy after World War I and it is now an important regional center.

✪ Bressanone Cathderal

The Bressanone Catheral (Duomo di Bressanone/Brixner Dom) is a large Baroque church facing Piazza del Duomo/Domplatz, the main square of the city. It was originally a Romanesque church in the Middle Ages, but it was rebuilt in Baroque style in the 18th century. It is characterized by two tall twin bell towers and it features a beautiful series of frescoes and decorations. The cloiser adjacent to the cathedral is decorated with ancient frescoes and it is linked with a baptistery.

Church of Saint Michael

The Church of Saint Michael (Chiesa di San Michele/Pfarrkirche Sankt Michael) is a large church located next to the the Bressanone Cathderal. It was built in Romanesque style in the 11th century and features rich Baroque decorations. The church is best known for its tall bell tower, known as White Tower (Torre Bianca/Weiße Turm), a 15th-century structure considered as one of the symbols of the city.

Palazzo Vescovile/Hofburg

Palazzo Vescovile is the historic residence of the prince-bishops of Bressanone. The large palace was erected on the site of a previous building between the 16th and 18th century. It features various decorated halls and hosts the Museo Diocesano/Diözesanmuseum, a museum of religious art that showcases the long history of the diocese of Bressanone.

Fortezza/Franzensfeste

Fortezza (Franzensfeste in German) is a small town in a narrow valley of South Tyrol. It only gained importance in the 19th century, when a large fortress was built here. Indeed, the name of the village comes from the fortress itself.

Franzensfeste Fortress

The Franzensfeste Fortress (Forte di Fortezza/Festung Franzensfeste) is a large Austrian fortress in a valley of South Tyrol. It was erected in the 1830s and it was for decades the most important fortification in the area, thanks to its strategic position. Now it serves as a museum.

Vipiteno/Sterzing

Vipiteno (Sterzing in German) is a small town in South Tyrol, located close to the Brenner Pass and the border with Austria. The town was founded in the Middle Ages and it flourished thanks to its position at the crossroads of trade routes. Now it is known for its beautiful old town.

Torre delle Dodici/Zwölferturm

The Torre delle Dodici/Zwölferturm is a tall 15th century tower and city gate in Vipiteno. It is regarded as the symbol of Vipiteno, and divides the oldest part of the town from the new one.