Tuesday, 20 June 2023

By public transport (Bolzano Card) or on foot (guided tours): in search of a fascinating city 

Among the many virtues of Bolzano is the ease of getting around. There exists a comprehensive system of public transport that allows visitors to reach every part of the city and its surroundings. To make travel even easier, the Bolzano Card includes free admission to museums and free travel on public transport throughout South Tyrol. Included in the price of your stay at participating establishments, it is issued upon arrival and remains valid for the entire period of your stay. It offers free admission to over 90 museums and the free use of trains, buses and cable cars, including the funicular on the Mendola Pass and the miniature train on the Renon plateau. The three cable cars that connect Bolzano with its surroundings are worthy of note: the first is the Colle cable car, which not only whisks visitors up to the top station in just a few minutes, but also offers a glimpse of the past: it is in fact the world’s oldest working cable car for carrying people. Next is the Renon cable car, departing every four minutes and connecting Bolzano to Soprabolzano: with its breathtaking panoramic views, the trip up is itself a unique experience. Last is the San Genesio cable car, currently closed for renovation and improvement. The plateau can still be reached via the 156 bus, however, and the colourful spectacle of the Salto woods at sunset should not be missed.

On foot, however, the best way to discover Bolzano is to take one of the guided tours organised by the Tourist Board: visit the grand houses of the old town, the underground city, the Benedictine Abbey and the Archaeological Museum. The attractions of the city are explained, along with their deepest secrets – stories that often leave even the people of Bolzano open-mouthed in amazement.

 

Federica Randazzo, Santa Maddalena wine ambassador and director of the Theatre Foundation

 

The art of theatre and the fascination of wine, all combined with a culture of broad horizons: Federica Randazzo is certainly Bolzano’s leading light this summer following her recent appointment to the post of director of the Fondazione Teatro Comunale, the city’s theatre foundation. In addition to major roles in the provincial administration (in the field of Italian culture, education and training), Ms Randazzo has since 2018 also been an ambassador for the preservation of Santa Maddalena wine. With a solid background in winemaking culture (she is also the national deputy editor of Slow Wine), she is motivated by a deep passion for the land and its wine.

As she explains: “Santa Maddalena represents one of the most promising red wines of Alto Adige. Its long tradition ensures that it is always recognisable, identifiable and sure. The wineries that produce it are often ancient, unmoved by fashion and able to express themselves with their natural, thorough approach. Some are even successfully reintroducing techniques dating back to the 1600s, now with a modern twist. The new generations too have found a place here, carefully refining their products without ever distorting their nature. New labels are also constantly being created, demonstrating the ability of this wine to move with the times without the need to depend on particular historical cycles. Discovering it in all its forms is truly a unique experience”.