Category: Sights

How to reach the Zwölferturm

The Tower of the Twelve in Vipiteno, the landmark of the Fugger town, is located at the end of the medieval old town.
One of the sights of Vipiteno (Sterzing) – besides the churches, museums and the Vipiteno City Hall with the Stone of Mithras – is the Tower of the Twelve, which separates the old town from the new town. It is called “Zwölferturm” in Geman and “Torre delle Dodici” in Italian. The tower is not only the landmark of Vipiteno, but with its 46 metres also its highest building.

Its name probably derives from the fact that its bell rings at noon and has always called the citizens to lunch. The Tower of the Twelve was built between 1468 and 1472 above the town passage and was thus used a the upper town gate. This was at a time when the nearby silver mine in the Val Ridanna valley led the region to prosperity and Vipiteno experienced its boom as a Fugger town. Two marble slabs above the archway still remind of the laying of the foundation stone by Sigismund, Archduke of Austria, in 1469.

In 1867, the Gothic pointed roof burned down and was replaced by a stepped gable. Temporarily, the tower served as the seat of the fire brigade, who had a good view on the entire town from there. Today the Tower of the Twelve can be visited on some special dates. During the Advent and Christmas season, the small wooden huts of the Vipiteno Christmas Market are placed around it. And how to reach the tower? It is located between the old town and the new town of Vipiteno, various parking facilities are nearby, e.g. the Centrum or the Piazza Europa car parks.

Opening hours: from the end of November 2019 to the beginning of January 2020
visits are possible during the Vipiteno Christmas MarketKontakt:
Zwölferturm

Neustadt 1
39049 Sterzing
+39 0472-765325

How to reach the Passo Gardena

The Passo Gardena (Jëuf de Frea in Ladin) proceeds from Selva di Val Gardena to Colfosco, which is part of the municipality of Corvara and with 1,645 m asl. the highest located holiday resort of Alta Badia. A little below the Passo Gardena, findings from the Stone Age were made, a driveway up to the mountain pass was built in 1915, during World War I.

The alpine world on the Passo Gardena is awesome: to the south the massy Sella Group, the Cir Peaks in the Puez Group with the Puez-Odle Nature Park to the north, the Sassolungo Group to the west and to the east the peaks of the Val Badia valley with the legendary Fanes Group. On the ridge, several brooks have their source, one of them is the Rio Frea which flows into the Rio Gardena.

In the middle of the 20th century, the Passo Gardena became relevant for tourism. In 1960 the first road was built, afterwards lift facilities and hiking paths followed. Today the Passo Gardena is one of the four mountain passes of the Sellaronda (a round on skis in winter and a four-passes cycle tour in summer). Moreover hikes into the Dantercepies Valley, to the Alta Via no. 2 or to the Pisciadù Via Ferrata, to mention but a few, start at the mountain pass.

How to reach the Glacier Mill

A 1.4 m wide and almost 3.6 m deep glacier mill, which was eroded by glacier water, by rotating circles of co-moving stones of local rock.

The glacial mills in Upper Val Passiria, also known as Giant’s Kettles, are a particular natural monument and witnesses of the last Ice Age. There are 20 glacial appearances of this kind and of various sizes in Plata. The largest glacial mill is 5 – 6 metres deep and has a diameter of 10.5 metres. The natural phenomenon has been formed during the last glacial period, the Würm glaciation, which ended 10,000 years ago.

Glacial mills are impressive tubes that have been cut into the ice by the churning action of water. The stones transported by the current are grinded and they deepen the hollow in the rocks. The water pressure on the stones reaches 200 kmph. Glacial mills are particularly interesting for a special field of science, which is glaciology. This earth science studies glaciers and ice as well as natural phenomena that involve ice. Permafrost, glaciers and barrier ice are also subjects that are treated in this science.

The glacial mills in Val Passiria (Gletschermühlen in German) were discovered by accident, when drainage works were done in the “Wirts Mous” below of the village. Today one of these Giant’s Kettles is accessible to the public. From the village of Plata the path n° 6 proceeds towards Pianlargo until a chapel, where the path n° 5 leads down to the glacial mill. By the way: also the gently rounded rocks, like the hill where the church of Plata is located, were polished by glaciers.

How to reach the Burgstall prehistoric settlement site

The Burgstall is a settlement from the late Iron Age, inhabited from approximately 400 B C over several centuries. It got distroyed after the middle of the 1st century B C due to fire, and was never rebuilt. The central building has been excavated and is in good condition. Next to this building is another residence and quarters for servants, storage areas and stables.

Accessible from Rifiano on the Kirchweg trail and then to Gnealersteig path. Walking time: about 40 min.

Tip: visit the permanent exhibition Vita Raetica in the Raiffeisenkasse building
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:00 am – 12:30 pm + 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Thu 8:00 am – 12:30 pm + 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

How to reach the The Castel Trauttmansdorf Throne

In “Hochkreuz” in Lagundo, directly on the popular Via Claudia Augusta bicycle path, is a very special vantage point: the Trauttmansdorff Throne. The view of Merano and the surrounding area, including Forst Castle (and the brewery of the same name) and one of the most modern churches in the entire Alpine region, the San Giuseppe Parish Church, is breathtaking in its splendour. Ideal for photographs and an absolute must-see for every tourist in Merano. Cyclists in particular often stop here for a break, to enjoy the view with a picnic before continuing their journey towards Val Venosta (Vinschgau) valley or Merano. Visitors can see the famous Botanical Gardens at the Trauttmansdorff Castle with binoculars. This observation deck is the ideal starting point for a visit to the Botanical Gardens at the Trauttmansdorff Castle.

Opening hours:
Open all year round

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Contact:
The Castel Trauttmansdorf Throne
Alte Landstraße / Via Vecchia
39022 Algund/ Lagundo
+39 0473 448600

How to reach the Roman Bridge Head and Masonry Embankment

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, lay 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 is also a small shrine and chapel.

Opening hours:
Tuesday – Sunday
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

How to reach the Earth pillars

An impressive natural spectacle are the earth pillars near Tirolo Castle and in Caines.

The earth pillars are a majestic natural phenomenon! The main premises for their emergence are the special characteristics of soil, the climate, a position that is sheltered from the wind as well as a huge piece of rock. Heavy rain provokes the soil to become soft and for this reason parts of the terrain to break away. Further rainfalls form corrugations in the terrain and slowly the pillars emerge, covered by a huge stone at the top, which also protects the pillars. Earth pillars mainly develop in moraine landscapes, which are typical in the Burgraviato area. However, only after thousands of years a very high earth pillar emerges. And this is also how this natural spectacle in Tirolo and Caines came into being…

Doing a circular walk is the best way to visit the earth pillars of Tirolo (see pic): in the village centre of Tirolo the path proceeds until Aura Castle and to the restaurant “Tiroler Kreuz”. The path leads you further to Tirolo Castle and back again into the village. Along the path several viewpoints exist, from where the earth pillars can be watched well. Due to a storm some years ago, few pillars were destroyed. If you take the Alta Muta cable car you can also admire the earth pillars.

To reach the Caines earth pillars you have to take the “Erdpyramidenweg” path (Earth Pillar Path). For approx. 35 minutes it proceeds from the Fineletal valley to the Ungerichthof farm in Caines. If you want to do a longer walk take the Caines Waalweg path. By the way: there are even more places with earth pillars in South Tyrol, in Terento and Plata in the Val Pusteria valley and at the Renon.