Discovered on a late summer day at the beginning of the Nineties, Ötzi is now one of the world’s most famous and important mummies.
The mummy, also known as the “Iceman”, was found by two German tourists, Erika and Helmut Simon. What they thought was some sort of rubbish or material deposited by the glacier proved to be a unique find.
Indeed, the mummy of the Ötztal Alps is one of the best preserved prehistoric human finds ever discovered.
Culture and history lovers can admire Ötzi, the Ice mummy, at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano. Visitors of all ages will learn how Ötzi lived thousands of years ago, what he ate and what he wore, and they will also discover how he probably died.
Mountain Magic - South Tyrol’s Messner Mountain Museums
It was probably one of his greatest and certainly also best conquests: the completion of the Messner Mountain Museum project, or MMM for short.
With the MMM Ripa at Brunico Castle in South Tyrol’s Puster Valley, in July 2011 the world-famous extreme mountain climber, Reinhold Messner, inaugurated the last of his five mountain museums. Over five exhibition sites in both South Tyrol and Belluno Messner gives interested visitors a fascinating insight into the world of mountain climbing. The museums are exciting places where you can find out about mountain culture at first hand, where the magic of the mountains can be vividly experienced.
Be it Firmian or Ortles, Juval, Ripa or the Dolomites – all of the Messner Mountain Museums in South Tyrol and Belluno are well worth a visit. And even those who do not usually go in for steep rocky crags or mighty summits will be inspired…
South Tyrol is an Eldorado for all alpine ski sports fans
Snow-covered summits, perfect winter idylls, countless opportunities to marvel at nature and enjoy sporting activities as well – winter in South Tyrol is a gift to holidaymakers!
The wintry landscape invites you to recharge your batteries and indulge yourself, and the perfectly groomed ski slopes of South Tyrol’s many ski resorts are the perfect place to start. A fabulous few weeks await you, no matter whether you choose to visit the eastern part of the region, surrounded by the impressive Dolomites, which were recently named as a world natural heritage site, or western South Tyrol at the foot of the Ortler group of mountains.
To make sure that you have an unforgettable holiday, South Tyrol’s ski instructors offer all the support that you could need and help make those first steps on skis easier for everyone, especially the little ones. Be it for snowboarding, carving or skiing, South Tyrol will inspire you! So happy skiing!!
The Prettau Healthy Climate Tunnel: the perfect place to enjoy a journey of discovery or rest cure
Are you looking for a relaxing holiday that will enable you to do something for your health at the same time? Then the pretty village of Prettau in the Tauferer Ahrntal Valley is the perfect holiday destination for you. Hotels specialising in healthy breaks offer a variety of appealing wellbeing packages at the heart of the South Tyrolean Alps. The pure mountain air is only bettered by the allergen and pollen-free air in the Prettau Healthy Climate Tunnel.
This healthy climate tunnel, which is scrutinized by the regional office for health, has become an important therapeutic centre. From asthma or bronchitis to skin diseases, in recent years a wide variety of different complaints have been treated, with the microclimatic conditions offering the perfect environment in which to do so. The constant temperature of around 9ºC and a relative air humidity of almost 100% results in the purest and mildest air. The perfect spot for complete relaxation and convalescence.
The challenges of the Giro, Italy’s largest and most popular cycling race, are made ever greater by the inclusion of spectacular stages in the northern Italian Alps; and this year the mountain time trial will be making a return to the Kronplatz in South Tyrol.
One day later, on 26th May 2010, it’s the turn of the 17th stage from Bruneck to Peio – another absorbing and exciting stage. So all we need to do now is hope for good weather – and a fair race.
Here is a video presenting each of the stages in the 2010 Giro d’Italia(Tour of Italy), including the section on the Kronplatz near Bruneck (in Italian).
Built by Count Trauttmansdorff from medieval ruins in 1850, the Castle named after him reigns over one of the most beautiful natural and cultural landscapes in Europe: the Trauttmansdorff Castle Botanic Gardens.
The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle in Merano
Above the spa town of Meran, which is famed far beyond South Tyrol’s borders, this site represents a special kind of refuge. Surrounded by thousands of different plant species, visitors can experience an impressive symbiosis of exotic and Alpine atmospheres in the four different gardens – and all this on an area of no less than 12 hectares. An adventure for the senses!
The variety continues in the Schlossgarten Restaurant. With dishes ranging from Mediterranean delicacies to South Tyrolean specialities there is something to suit all tastes here. A trip to the Touriseum in Trauttmansdorff Castle is also well worth a visit: the renowned regional museum brings 200 years of eventful alpine tourism history enjoyably to life.
Trauttmansdorff opening hours 2010:
1 April – 15 November: 9 am to 6 pm (last admission: 5 pm)
15 May – 15 September: 9 am to 9 pm (last admission: 8 pm)
Open 7 days / No admission for pets
Tel. +39 0473 235 730
Fax +39 0473 235 731 www.trauttmansdorff.it www.touriseum.it
Posted by South Tyrol Holiday 
