(Bozen)
see page explaining double names here.
- For other uses of Bolzano, including the mathematician Bernard Bolzano, see Bolzano (disambiguation).
Comune di {{{name}}} | |
|---|---|
  Comune di {{{name}}} Location of {{{official_name}}} in Italy  Comune di {{{name}}} Comune di {{{name}}} (Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol) | |
| Coordinates: 46°30′N 11°21′E / 46.500°N 11.350°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol |
| Province | Bolzano-Bozen (BZ) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Luigi Spagnoli |
| Demonym(s) | Italian: bolzanini German: Bozner |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 39100 |
| Dialing code | 0471 |
| Website | www.comune.bolzano.it |
Bolzano (German: Bozen: Ladin: Bulsan) is a city in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region of Italy. It is the capital of the autonomous province of Bolzano-Bozen.
The Alto Adige Museum of Archeology in Bolzano is where the ice-mummy "Ötzi" is kept.
The city is also the home of the Italian Army's Alpini High Command- COMALP and some of its combat and support units.
History
editInitially inhabited by the Rhaetians, the area was settled by the Romans in 15 BCE, by general Nero Claudius Drusus, who gave the original town its Roman name, Pons Drusi. The city name later became Bauzanum. Bolzano has been a trading point since its foundation and elevation to a city over 800 years ago, due to its location in between the two major cities of Venice and Augsburg. Four times a year a market was held and traders came from the south and the north. The mercantile magistrate was therefore founded in 1635. Every market season two German and Italian officers (appointed from the traders who operated there) worked in this office. The city was a cultural crosspoint at that time.
In 1918, at the end of World War I the Trentino, also known as the Welsch-Tirol or Italian Tyrol, and the southern part of the German-speaking Tyrol with its main city Bozen were occupied by Italians and thereafter annexed according to the Treaty of London of 1915, that give to Italy all the territories south of the Alpine water divide, even in presence of non Italian population.
After the raisng of fascism many ethnic Italians moved to the city from other parts of Italy (primarily from northern Italy). After 1926, ethnic South Tyroleans were subjected to a policy of Italianisation that involved imposing Italian-only place names (including even the smallest hamlets), Italian given names (i.e. Franz became Franco) as well as in some cases Italianisation of family names (i.e. Gruber became Della Fossa; Perathoner became Pietrantoni). Indigenous South Tyroleans turned inward and thanks to the local clergy preserved their cultural identity by organizing secret German schools (so-called Katakombenschule or catacomb schools).
The resistance to the imposition of the Italian culture in public life was so strong, that the fascist regime agreed with Nazi Germany to "transfer" to the Reich of all those South Tyroleans who wanted to remain German. Local Fascists expected the elites to go and the bulk of the population to stay. However, they miscalculated and allowed Nazi agents to infiltrate the province of Bolzano-Bozen who pushed the indigenous population to opt for emmigration in large numbers. The majority of the inhabitants who spoke German and Ladin had to choose between moving to Germany or assimilation (the so-called Opzione or "Option"). Almost 80 per cent chose to go to Germany. Nazis officials meanwhile planned to resettle ethnic south Tyroleans in German-occupied territories such as Luxembourg or Crimea. However, when Fascism collapsed in 1943, emigration came to a standstill. This period was very traumatic for the German-speaking population, and rivalries and tensions emerged between those who had chosen emigration to Germany (the Optanten) and those who had stayed (the Dableiber). Altogether only a third of the 75,000 who actually made the trek northward came back after 1945.
Society and economy
editAfter World War II Italy, then led by Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi (a Trentino native and a former member of the Reichsrat Parliament in Vienna before 1914) and Austrian Chancellor Gruber signed an agreement that would have guaranteed the province a substantial degree of autonomy. However, Bolzano was incorportad in the larger Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region that had an overall Italian-speaking majority. However, the implementation of the UN-brokered treaty between Italy and Austria fell short of local expectations. Ethnic tensions resurfaced, culminating in a wave of bombings and acts of sabotage during the 1960s by German activists of the province of Bolzano-Bozen. Apparently some cooperated with neo-Nazi groups in Austria and Germany. Only after a new autonomy package was negotiated in 1969-1972 and the province was given a greater autonomy from the Italian central government, did ethnic clashes subside. The autonomy package took 20 years before it was fully implemented. This, and the determined defense of their culture and language, has allowed the German speaking population to avoid assimilation. Instead, Italian-speaking Alto Atesini began complaining of discrimination.
As part of the autonomy package, the province of Bolzano-Bozen became autonomous and Italian, German and Ladin became official languages. Cities and towns throughout the province received double-names.
According to the 2001 census, 73% of the city inhabitants were Italian speakers. Of the remainder, 23% speak German and 1% Ladin as their first language. Outside of Bolzano the majority of inhabitants speak German as first language (according to 2001 census, approx. 330,000 among 475,000 inhabitants of the province speak German as first language). There are many bilingual people. A small minority of people speak Ladin.
The society of the province of Bolzano-Bozen is still to some extent segmented across ethnic lines. Because of its special autonomy and the unique industrious and collaborative culture, Bolzano is one of the richest cities in Italy. It enjoyes a very high standard of living, ranking consistently among the top cities nationwide.
The city thrives on a mix of old and new—high-quality intensive agriculture (including wine, fruit and dairy products), tourism, traditional handicraft (wood, ceramics) and advanced services. Heavy industry (machinery, automotive, steel) installed during the 1930's has now been mostly dismanteled. On the downside, the local economy is very dependent on the public sector, and especially the autonomous province government.
Main sights
edit![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2010) |
The city's Austrian character, enhanced by the narrow cobblestone streets, Austrian-style churches and pervasive bilingual signage give it the unique flavour of a city at crossroads between Italian and Austrian cultures. This, and its natural and cultural attractions make it a renowned tourist destination.
Among the major monuments and sights are:
- Walther von der Vogelweide Square, with a statue of the minstrel with the same name
- The Archeological Museum, which hosts the Ötzi mummy
- The Gothic Cathedral, started in 1184, probably on the foundations of a Roman villa and rebuilt in the 14th Century by architects Martin and Peter Schiche (completed 1382)
- Various castles, including Mareccio Castle, Roncolo Castle and Firmiano Castle
- The First World War Victory Monument, a controversial monument built by Mussolini in 1928
- The Messner Mountain Museum Firmian
City districts and neighboring communities
editCity districts:
- Centro-Piani-Rencio
- Oltrisarco-Aslago
- Europa-Novacella
- Don Bosco
- Gries-San Quirino
Neighbouring communities are: Appiano, Cornedo, Laives, Nova Ponente, Renon, San Genesio, Terlano and Vadena.
Other important nearby towns are Bressanone, Brunico and Merano.
Twin cities
edit
Transportation
editHighway A22-E45 to Trento and Verona and to Innsbruck and Munich. Railway (main line between Italy and Germany).
See also
editExternal links
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