'Merano' (
Italian, now most common in English;
German: 'Meran', also used in English;
Ladin: ''Meran''; Archaic (857 AD): ''Mairania'';
Latin: ''Merona''; many of the region's
Italian languages/dialects use ''Meran''), is a town in the
province of Bolzano-Bozen,
Italy. Generally best known for its
spa resorts, it is located inside a
basin, surrounded by mountains standing up to 3,335 m (11,000 ft), at the entrance to the
Passeier Valley, the
Vinschgau (Val Venosta) and the
Ultental (Val d'Ultimo) valleys.
Arcades in the centre of the city.
In the past the town has been a popular place of residence for several scientists and artists, who appreciated its mild
climate.
Among the town's landmarks are the Museum of Tourism, which was opened in the spring of
2003 and shows the historical development of tourism in the province, and the
botanic garden. Both sites are located in the
Trauttmansdorff Castle.
History
The area was inhabited since the
3rd millennium BC, as showed by the presence of menhirs and other findings. The story of the city proper began in
15 BC when the
Romans occupied the
Adige valley founding a military camp, ''Castrum Majense''. Merano was elevated to the status of a city during the
13th century. It was capital of the
County of Tyrol from 1418 to 1848.
After the county had been handed over to the
Habsburg family in
1363 after the abdication of Countess
Margarete Maultasch of Tyrol, in
1420 Friedrich IV moved the court to
Innsbruck. Merano subsequently lost its predominant position and almost all its importance as an economic hub across the roads connecting Italy to Germany. The important mint was also moved to
Hall in
1577.
The Tyrolean struggle for freedom of
1809 drew attention again to Merano. In that year, on the
Küchelberg above the city, the Tyroleans eked out a victory against the
French and
Bavarians troops.
The county was later restored on the person of
Anna Maria Josephine Plochl, morganatic wife of
Archduke Johann of Austria.
After
World War I, Merano became part of
Italy with the rest of the
province of Bolzano-Bozen.
Passirio River, panoramic view.
Languages
According to the 2001 census, 51.50 % of the resident population speaks
German as mother language, 48.01%
Italian, and 0.49%
Ladin.
Sports
In
1981, the
World Chess Championship match between
Anatoly Karpov and
Victor Korchnoi was held in Merano. A
chess opening, the ''Meran Variation'' of the
Semi-Slav Defense, was named after the town. The first act of the musical ''
Chess'' is about a world chess championship match in Merano.
The city's
handball team is one of the most important of Italy, winner of the ''scudetto'' in
2005. The
ice hockey team won two national championships, but it is currently playing in the Second Division (A2 series).
Each September, the
Gran Premio Merano takes place in the
Maia Racecourse; this is the most famous Italian
Steeplechase.
External links
★
Homepage of the city
★
Homepage of the Tourism Authority
Images
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