Falzes
The Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol
The Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol is one of the most important provinces in Italy both in terms of its territorial extension and its population. With over 500,000 inhabitants and an area of approximately 7,400 km², it is the largest province in Italy and is located in the Trentino-Alto Adige region.
Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino Euroregion
The Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol is part of the Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino Euroregion along with the Autonomous Province of Trento and Austrian Tyrol. This territory is characterized by strong linguistic and cultural cohesion.
Toponymy
The Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol has different names. The constitutional law of the State of 1972 defines it as the province of Bolzano or Autonomous Province of Bolzano. In German, the correct name is Provinz Bozen or Autonome Provinz Bozen.
However, since 2001, article 116 of the Italian Constitution provides for the wording South Tyrol/Alto Adige. This is why the entity always uses the double denomination "Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol" (officially translated in German as "Autonome Provinz Bozen - Südtirol").
Despite this, the inhabitants of this province are called South Tyroleans. Alternatively, in Italian, "Sud Tirolo", "Sudtirolo" or "Tirolo del Sud" are also used for the province of Bolzano and "sudtirolesi" for its German or Ladin speaking inhabitants. The Ladin form is referred to as Provinzia Autonoma de Balsan - Südtirol (in the Badia dialect) or Provinzia Autonoma de Bulsan - Südtirol (in the Gherdëina dialect).
The History of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol
During the Habsburg domination, the province of Bolzano was referred to as Mitteltirol, or Central Tyrol. Südtirol (South Tyrol) referred to the southern part of Tyrol, which included Trentino-Alto Adige. Here, the Italian-speaking southern Tyrol (italienisches Südtirol, Welschsüdtirol or Welschtirol) or Trentino, and the German-speaking (Deutschsüdtirol), corresponding to today's South Tyrol, can be distinguished.
The use of the term Südtirol to indicate only the territory between Brenner and Salorno is contested by some authors, but this term was used in the Pact of London of 1915 in art. 4, where "Trentino" and "Cisalpine Tyrol" are mentioned separately.
In conclusion, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol is one of the largest and most important provinces in Italy. Thanks to its unique and heterogeneous history and culture, it is a highly appreciated place among tourists and visitors from all over the world.
