Süd Tirol

Südtirol (German) / Alto Adige (Italian) / South Tirol (English)

      South Tirol, located in Northern Italy, is a beautiful, mountainous province with two significant, languages. German is spoken by two-thirds of the 429,000 residents of the region. Italian is the other significant language, spoken mostly in Meran and Bozan, the two largest cities. Approximately 118,000 people speak Italian.

        Südtirol borders Austria at the Brenner Pass in the north and with the Austrian province of Osttirol to the east. Originally a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the allies passed control of the region to Italy in 1919 as a reward for Italy's participation in World War One. The region has prospered, especially since 1945. Today (late 1990's) the economy is vibrant with exceptionally low unemployment (2.5 percent), far lower than Italy's overall rate of 13 percent. The pace is life is much faster they one finds in the rest of Italy and one has the sense they are in Austria or Northern Europe rather Southern Europe.

        Südtirol is a very popular tourist destination. The mountain valleys are wonderful for summer hikes and winter activity as well. There are many ski locations for Alpine and Cross Country skiing. Meran has a long history as a popular resort for the wealthy and European nobility. Hundreds of members of the Russian Royal family fled to Meran and lived there in exile after the Communists took control of Russia in 1919.

        Toady Meran remains a world famous resort and spa. Both Meran and Bozan are favorite destinations for Germans, who arrive by the thousands throughout the year. Perhaps it is the alpine beauty, the friendly people, or maybe they are just comfortable visiting Italy and speaking German! Whatever the reason, German license plates are ubiquitous on Sudtirol's roadways and in its cities.

I love the region and visited at least twice a month when we lived in Italy. My favorite spots are Brixen and Bozen. Feel free to read about each of these places and find out why they are so wonderful. Südtirol is one of the most beautiful regions of Alpine Europe. The mixture of German and Italian culture and language creates a unique setting in the Alps.