The renowned Via dei Portici with its arcades begins at the western side of Piazza Municipio - Rathausplatz. This is definitely one of the most visited streets of the town. The Arcades are the heart of commercial life in Bolzano, and they are also regarded as one of the best known shopping centres, thanks to the uninterrupted sequence of elegant, traditional and modern shops with their attractive windows. Details to note on buildings' facades: one of them is richly decorated with floral patterned plaster work in Baroque style and embellished by the characteristic “Erker” (wooden shutters on the wall). We also suggest to have a look at the two old chemists, “Alla Madonna” and “Aquila nera” (the former is regarded as a small museum of oils, essences, dyes, infusions and balms) as well as the store of the South Tyrolean Artisans' Cooperative.

The street is named after Dr. Joseph Streiter, formerly a lawyer and mayor of the city around the middle of the 19th century. This road runs parallel to the Arcades and it was the northern ditch of the old Episcopal village. The buildings on the right belong to the same construction bodies of those on the northern side of the Arcades. Details to note are the fish market’s old white marble stands, the two lancet arches, the half-walled large arch of the “Zallingerturm” passage and the northern side of the old town hall (civic building 25).

Via dei Bottai - Bindegrasse is one of the most typical streets in the historic centre of Bolzano Bozen, characterised by its original signs in wrought iron of the numerous artisans' shops. At the northern end we find the Maximilianhouse, built in 1512 in late Gothic style; was the seat of the administrative offices of Emperor Maximilian I. Now it houses the Natural History Museum of South Tyrol.

Via Argentieri - Silbergasse begins at the south-western part of Piazza del Grano - Kornplatz. Along this street once flew the southern ditch of the wall of the old Episcopal village. On the right side stands the Baroque structure of the Mercantile Palace ( E ) (1708-1727) with wide steps leading to the entrance. Formerly it was the seat of the Merchants’ Magistrate (the institute of Claudia de’ Medici in 1635) and of the Chamber of Commerce until 1979. The “House of Trade” has been extensively renovated and is now open to visitors as a museum. Of particular interest for the tourists is the beautiful interior courtyard and the two lines of loggia, the monumental staircase and the elegant hall of honour. Slightly further on from the Merchantile Palace, still on the same side of the street, we find Casa Troilo (circa 1603) with corner pillars and an interior passageway joining via Argentieri - Silbergasse with the Arcades (a stone door with a coat of arms).

Via della Mostra - Mustergasse is the centre’s richest street, where throughout the 18th century the wealthiest exponents of the city’s bourgeoisie have built prestigious palaces such as Palazzo Campofranco (on the southern side on the corner of Piazza Walther - Waltherplatz), the opposite Palazzo Menz, which nowadays houses the Banca Intesa BCI and Palazzo Pock on the southern side of the square, which formerly housed the most prestigious city’s hotel (zur Kaiserkron). The south-western side of the street is remarkable for a short line of Arcades. Where the Fink restaurant now stands, once was the seat of the city’s judge, with torture chamber, prison and guard quarters.

Vicolo della Pesa - Waggasse 

Small passages link the Arcades to the parallel roads, via Dr. Streiter - Dr. Streitergasse and via Argentieri - Silbergasse. One of these is Vicolo della Pesa - Waggasse, which leads us into Piazza del Grano - Kornplatz, where the grain and agricultural market used to be. This is the oldest urban centre of the Episcopal Town, where once stood the castle of the bishops of Trento, demolished by Mainardo II of Tyrol in 1277, and Saint Andrew’s church, demolished in 1785. On the northern side of the square is one of the most picturesque buildings of the city: the Casa della Pesa (1634), the main public weighing-house until 1780.

Via Weggenstein - Weggenstein Str.

On the left side of the street we find the Gothic St. George’s Church of Teutonic Order (Chiesa di San Giorgio dell’Ordine Teutonico). Inside this church we can see the pulpit and the altar by A. Filippini (end of 18th century) and a lot of flags by the Teutonic Order on the left wall.

Piazza Walther - Waltherplatz is also known as the “gute Stube” or parlour of the city. In 1808 King Maximilian of Bavaria wanted this square built and it first took his name, later that of the Archduke Johann of Austria (Johannesplatz). In 1901 it received its present name after Walther von der Vogelweide (1170-1230), one of the greatest German poets of the Middle Ages. When South Tyrol became part of Italy, the square was named after King Vittorio Emanuele III until the end of the second World War.
In the centre of the square stands the Walther monument in neo Romanesque style made by the sculptor Heinrich Natter (1889) in white marble from Lasa. From 1935 to 1985 the Fascist Government ordered the monument to be placed in Parco Rosegger, just outside the centre of the town.

On the colourful and lovely Piazza delle Erbe - Obstplatz takes place the famous fruit and vegetable market. On the corner with the arcades of Via dei Portici - Laubengasse stands the fountain of Neptune (1745), otherwise known as “Gabelwirt” (innkeeper with a fork), with the bronze statue by G. Mayr from Fié. On the opposite site, on the corner with Via Museo, a plaque marks the place where the old "Hotel Sonne", which hosted important people like Goethe, Herder and Emperor Joseph II, used to be.

At the southern end of Via dei Bottai - Bindergasse we arrive at the small square named Piazza del Municipio (Town Hall Square), where the Neo-Baroque (1907) Town Hall stands. The square is surrounded by numerous houses with beautiful façades decorated with stucco in Rococo style.

Behind the "Victory Monument" there is a park leading to Piazza Vittoria - Siegesplatz surrounded by monumental buildings in rational style. Every Saturday the crowded, bustling market which is the focal point for many tourists, takes place on the square.