29/07/2025
Stop two- Bozen/Bolzano
Not so well known generally in the UK, this charming city has two names as it's been ruled by Austria and Italy (now Italy) at various times. Everything is written in both languages here and the blend of culture and cuisine makes this along with the rest of the South Tirol, a unique blend of the two cultures. Bolzano is known as the gateway to the Dolomites, the very distinctive part of the Alps that dominate this region and attract millions to view their splendour. The South Tirol is one of the most affluent areas in Italy, as the endless designer shops in Bolzano certainly testify. This is a city, with many beautiful squares and charming restaurants, that effortlessly serve plentiful glasses of Campari and Aperol keeping the locals and visitors alike, very satisfied. What's not to like!
Bolzano also has a world famous resident, his name is Ötzi. Ötzi is man 5300 years old, who's mummified body was discovered by hikers in a glacier in 1991. He is the oldest mummified human to be found in Europe. After his discovery, his body went through many scientific tests to ascertain as much as possible about him, including of course, his age. They also discovered, something much darker, in that he'd been murdered by an arrow shot at him from behind. With the discovery of the arrow head buried in his body, a full autopsy and crime scene were established which found many fascinating findings from the area where he was murdered. From this one discovery, a whole museum was founded with so much detailed information about Ötzi and the life and times of people living back then, it's really quite incredible. Ötzi himself now rests in a cryogenic chamber and you're allowed to see him and say hello through a small window when it's your turn in the queue. Given how old Ötzi is, he looks pretty good, you can even still see his tattoos!
We also visited the utterly captivating town of Merano, a short 30 minute drive from Bolzano and took the chair lift up to the top of the mountain for drinks and cake. It's difficult to capture the sheer beauty in these places with pictures as they just don't compare to seeing it in person, but for now, look at the pictures and if you like what you see, add these places to your list. Breathtaking scenery doesn't really cover it!
Next stop - Selva Val Gardena
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