Cermes
The Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol
Hello friends! Today I want to talk to you about the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol, located in the Trentino-Alto Adige region in northern Italy. This province is the largest in Italy, covering an area of 7,400 km² and having a population of around 533,000 inhabitants. The province of Bolzano is part of the Euroregion Euregio Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino and the Triveneto macro-area. It is linked to Tyrol (Austria) by linguistic and cultural reasons.
Toponymy
The province of Bolzano has two official names, 'province of Bolzano' or 'autonomous province of Bolzano', accompanied by the German translation. In reality, the double name 'Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol' is always used, which in German becomes 'Autonome Provinz Bozen – Südtirol'. The inhabitants of the province are generally called South Tyroleans, but sometimes 'Sud Tirol', 'Sudtirol' or 'South Tyrol' are also used. The territory known as 'Mitteltirol', or Central Tyrol, during Habsburg domination corresponded to the current province of Bolzano. With 'Südtirol', on the other hand, the present-day Trentino or the entire southern part of Tyrol was indicated. The Ladin form, 'Provinzia Autonoma de Balsan/Bulsan – Südtirol', is also used.
History
The province was created in 1948, following peace treaties after World War II. The territory had been taken from Austria, an ally of Nazi Germany, and assigned to Italy. The province of Bolzano was a border area and as such very delicate, so much so that in the 60s and 70s it was sadly famous for the tensions between the Italian and German-speaking populations. In the 70s, autonomy was granted to the province, and there was a reform plan that limited its powers but at the same time allowed the populations to have a say.
Geography and Tourism
The territory of the province of Bolzano is characterized by mountains and dolomites, with many naturalistic excursions and panoramic walks. There are also many lakes, including the famous Lake Garda. The Puster Valley is an ideal place for skiing, while the city of Bolzano is famous for its wonderful Christmas market, held every year. The province of Bolzano is a very popular tourist destination, especially for German tourists who feel it's like a second home.
Languages and Culture
The province of Bolzano is known to be a multilingual area, where both Italian and German are spoken, and where an important Ladin-speaking minority is present. Schools are obliged to teach all three languages, and this has created a very interesting multicultural community. The province also organizes many cultural events, from art exhibitions to music festivals, and traditional themed parties. Furthermore, the province has a unique cuisine, which combines Italian and German culinary traditions.
Conclusion
In summary, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol is a wonderful and fascinating place, with a great cultural and linguistic richness, an unspoiled nature and a unique cuisine. If you have the opportunity to visit this place, do not hesitate to do so: you will be fascinated by the mountains, the traditions and the mix of cultures that make it unique in the world. I hope this summary has given you an idea of what to expect from the province of Bolzano and that it has been useful to discover more about this wonderful area of Italy.
