Between Italy and Austria in Bolzano

I’ve already written about the luck my family and I had visiting Bolzano on Saturday for market day and how we stocked up on all the specialties from Alto Adige/Austria.

Bolzano is the capital of Alto Adige, the German-speaking half of Italy’s Trentino Alto-Adige. From the architecture and the language spoken around you, you’ll feel more in Austria than you will in Italy.

The city is an enjoyable walking city, and we were lucky to have blue skies and warm sun on the February day when we were visiting. The central Piazza Walther is the center of town, and the day we were visiting was a festival for children, so it was lively.

The 15th century Gothic duomo is worth a visit, and there are plenty of shops, restaurants and bars to explore in the bustling market streets.

As you can see from the photo above, Bolzano even has a beloved Viennese tradition. A Sacher outlet in Bolzano brings the original taste of the Austrian capital’s original Sachertorte to Alto-Adige. In my mind, this alone makes a trip to Bolzano worth it …

Whether you are looking for a cultural excursion after a week of skiing in the beautiful Dolomites just beyond the city, or looking for a pleasant way to stretch your legs on a drive to points further south on the Italian peninsula, don’t miss out on a visit to the Austrian-Italian gem of Bolzano.