Quarters of Bolzano

In this section you can learn more about the quarters of Bolzano

The quarters of Bolzano are five and according to the growth rate of the city, there will even be some more in the future. Gries - St. Quirein , the centre Piani-Rencio, Europa - Novacella, Oltrisarco - Aslago e Don Bosco are all very different and every quarter has got its own strenghts. In Gries and Piani offers lots of nature, whereas the heart of the city is mainly characterised by historical buildings. Europa - Novacella represents the "trade centre" which is used to make shopping sprees. A new quarter has been established on the area of the Mignone barracks at Bolzano Aslago. It is called Bolzano Rosenbach and in April 2008 the most important facilities are built.

Gries - St. Quirein

This former health resort has not always been part of Bolzano. Only since time of fascism, so to speak since 1925 this quarter has come under Bolzano. Before Gries has been a separate village that has been internationally renowned. Also the popular Guncina promenade or Erzherzog Heinrich promenade dates back to this time. South Tyrol has become part of Italy and Italian speaking citizens increasingly started settling down in this area. Bolzano became too small as provincial capital and for this reason Gries has been made part of Bolzano without further ado. Wondrously there has neven been an Italian name for this quarter. At the end of 2007, Gries has been inhabited by 29,870 people on a surface of 13,46 sqkm. Gries is the second quarter of Bolzano in terms of extenstions. The Benedictine monastery Muri Gries and the corresponding church dedicated to Saint Augustinus characterise the centre of the quarter. Before this construction has served as monastery, it has been a castle and after that an Augustinian canon monastery.

The following hamlets belong to Gries: San Maurizio, S. Giorgio, Guncina, Rena, San Quirino, Ponte Adige (Kaiserau) and Gries. In San Maurizio there is the provincial hospital as well as the Victory Monument, which is an important witness of the time of fascism of Bolzano. Moreover most of the academic high schools are located in this quarter. Herbert Rosendorfer, writer and journaist, has been born in this quarter, too.

Oltrisarco - Aslago

The name of this quarter derives from the Haselburg Castle, that is enthroned above Bolzano. The hills in the surroundings of Bolzano have already been inhabited very early. In the time of the Migration Period the Isarco basin has been flooded and for this reason the higher located areas were intensely populated.
At the beginning of the 60s, Aslago has only been a small quarter. However, after 1970 a construction boom flooded the area of Aslago Oltrisarco and became a lively part of Bolzano.

Today the surface of this quarter comprises 10,92 sqkm, and 13,507 inhabitants (Dec. 2007) live in this quarter. As a quarter should be rather self-governing, in Aslago there are also schools, kindergarden, an Italian vocational college, a field for athletic sports as well as numerous facilities for senior citizens, as a canteen for seniors, a health and social care service, the volunteer fire brigade of the quarter, a citizen and youth centre, boyscouts, sports associations and a library.

In the west Oltrisarco Aslago is delimited by the Isarco river, in the east by the Kohlerer Berg mountain, which also represents a border of the city. In the north the border is the Virgl, which is a rock spur outstanding the Kohlerer mountain.

Centre - Piani - Rencio

The historic district of the city is the centre of the city as well of South Tyrol. The historical buildings in the centre, the alleys, piazze, and the wide range of cultural offers in the heart of the capital attract a large number of visitors and inhabitants. Also the provincial government is mainly located in the heart of the city. Piani borders on the centre in the east of the city. Rencio is located in the in north east direction at the foot of the Renon, which has always been a popular holiday destination for the inhabitants in Bolzano. Renon appears like a little village had is characterised by an idyllic atmosphere. St. Magdalena, a hamlet of the quarter, is famous for the popular Magdalener Wine, a Vernatsch wine.

Europa Novacella is an area in the south west of Bolzano, in which some trade chains have settled down. As a consequence this quarter represents an activity area and domicile for numerous citizens. This is how a new large quarter emerged.

Don Bosco
Don Bosco is located in the west of the centre of Bolzano and is equipped with all numerous social facilities a quarter needs. However, there are no especially interesting historical buildings or piazze ans it is simply an enlargement of the centre of Bolzano.