Laces
The Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol
The Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol is the northernmost province of Italy, located in the Trentino-Alto Adige region. With a population of 533,175 and an area of 7,400 km², it is also the largest province in Italy. The province is part of the Euroregion Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino and the Triveneto geographic area.
Toponymy
The province is known both as the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol and as South Tyrol, Sudtirol or South Tyrol in English, while its inhabitants are generally called Alto Adige. The Ladin form of the province is reported as Provinzia Autonoma de Balsan - Südtirol or Provinzia Autonoma de Bulsan - Südtirol. During the Habsburg domain, the current province of Bolzano was known as Mitteltirol (Central Tyrol) and the term Südtirol was used to indicate Trentino or the entire southern part of Tyrol, south of the Brenner Pass.
The Italian Constitution
The official name of the province, as reported in the special statute of 1972, is the Province of Bolzano or the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, with the official German translation. Article 116 of the Italian Constitution, starting from the reform of 2001, reports the wording South Tyrol/Alto Adige: "The Trentino-Alto Adige/South Tyrol Region is composed of the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano."
Languages and cultures
The province of Bolzano - South Tyrol is characterized by great linguistic and cultural diversity. The majority of the population speaks German, while a minority speaks Ladin or Italian. The province has a strong cultural and historical identity, also relevant in its architecture and gastronomy.
Relations with Austria
The province of Bolzano - South Tyrol has strong ties with Austria, as evidenced by the fact that both Italian and German are official languages at the provincial level. There is an Italian minority in the province, which represents about a quarter of the population, while the majority is German-speaking. The province has its own autonomy, which allows it to manage most of its internal affairs.
Tourism
The province of Bolzano - South Tyrol is a very popular tourist destination, both in summer and winter. The province offers a wide range of outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, and skiing. The region is famous for its mountains, lakes, forests, and spectacular natural landscapes.
In summary, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol is a land of numerous cultural and linguistic identities, which have been historically influenced by its contacts with Austria and the autonomy of the region at the provincial level. The province enjoys an important historical, cultural, and architectural heritage, which makes it a very popular tourist destination.
