Merano - a Break From the Usual Italian Tour
Take the Cure, Hike the Alps, and Tour Castles
Nov 16, 2008
Merano, in a valley half an hour west of Bozen in the Trentino Alto Adige region of Italy, is a part of a region that was Austrian until 1918. German is still the language as well as the food influence. The city sits at about 1,000 feet, sheltered to the north and east by mountain ranges reaching altitudes of 10,000 feet. This creates a mild microclimate providing summers that are not too hot or humid and winter temperatures that remain above freezing even when the surrounding mountains are covered with snow.
Taking the Cure in Merano
There are many ways to indulge in this spa town where, since the 19th century, Austrian nobility have been "taking the cure." Savor the pampering luxuries of treatments that include hydrotherapy, apple cures, thermal baths, and Merano’s famous grape cure.
Hiking the Italian Alps
There are two national parks near Merano for those in search of a more active experience. Parco Nazionale Della Stelvio, just east of the city, offers 1.3 million acres of rocky mountain snow-capped peaks. The park office provides maps and lists of huts where hikers can stay overnight within the park. Parco Nazionale Di Tessa surrounds Merano with alpine meadows and sloping forests. Hikers can cross the park in two days on the southern route. There are restaurants as well as farmhouses on the trail that offer rooms. The northern route is more challenging and scenic with snack bar-equipped huts along the trail.
If more of a stroll is preferred, Merano provides two scenic promenades following the banks of the Passer River that runs through the town: the Passegiata d'Estate (Summer Walk, which faces north) and Passeggiata d'Inverno (Winter Walk, which faces south). These paved walks lead from the heart of Merano to the outskirts of the city. A longer walk is available along the Passeggiata Tappeiner. This path, which has been described as the finest “promenade” in the Alps, leaves the city center and winds its way upward 4 kilometers to the base of Mount Benedetto.
Exploring Castles in Itay
A visit to Merano is not complete without exploring the town’s noble history. Many castles that remain in and around Merano are privately owned and still lived in today. However, two not to miss are Castel Tirolo and Castel Fontana.
The counts of Venosta ruled from Castel Tirolo, a medieval fortress, throughout much of the 13th and 14th centuries. Today the castle is used as a museum of history and culture. The archeological museum provides an overall view of the early settlers (7 BC). There is also a fully intact melting furnace from the Bronze Age. The main wall, built around 1100, remains one of the oldest and best preserved castle walls, including parts of the battlements. The castle chapel includes frescoes from the 13th century, the oldest Tyrolean stained glass windows, and an enormous wooden carved crucifix from the 14th century.
Castel Fontana is believed to be named after a nearby spring and lies on a glacial hill between the village and Castel Tirolo. The fortresses of the castle date from between 1241 and 1253. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Brunnenburg was privately purchased and restored. Today it is a cultural center and home of the South Tyrolean Agricultural museum.
Merano is an elegant, historical town. Because of the unusual geographical location and healing spring waters, Merano can offer something for everyone. Break away from the standard Italian itinerary and spend a few days of relaxation, hiking, and history in the spa town.
Sources
Frommer's Northern Italy with Venice & the Lakes, 1st edition, 2002
