[View of Dolomites from Youth Hostel in Bolzano]

Bolzano

Bolzano, the gateway to the Dolomites mountain range, is the first city we stayed at in the South Tyrol province of northern Italy. Throughout the days spent here, we explored the Messner Mountain Museum – Firmian, the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology to view the Neolithic mummy Ötzi the Iceman and the Monument of Victory. Other note worthy sites in the city included the Duomo di Bolzano cathedral with its Romanesque and Gothic architecture, the views from the cable car and the food at Walther’s.

 [Ground view of the Monument of Victory]

Monument of Victory or Division?

After World War I, Italy gained possession of the South Tyrol region from Austria. The fascist leader, Benito Mussoloini, decided it fit at the time to tear down the Austrian monument Kaiserjäger in 1926 in order to construct his own. As seen above, the monument was inscribed in Latin and reads:

“HIC PATRIAE FINES SISTE SIGNA / HINC CETEROS EXCOLVIMVS LINGVA LEGIBVS ARTIBVS” which translates to “Here at the border of the fatherland set down the banner. From this point on we educated the others with language, law and culture.”

Which, if you ask me, sounds a lot like cultural genocide.

This was not taken lightly by the German speaking population and still to this day causes a lot of tension and a lack of compassion and understanding amongst the citizens of Bolzano and South Tyrol. 

When we visited, the museum underneath, which gives both the Italian and German perspective on the war and the monument, was closed. This was very upsetting to us as all the other museums in the region had been reopened. To me this further spoke to the division. Imagine being a minority in your own home and having to live with the fact that the only history being shared is the history the winners wrote after they tore down everything that represented you culturally. We as American’s have written the same narrative for other’s and it absolutely disgusts me.  

 [View of Latemar from the town of Predazzo]

Predazzo

A beautiful village. Possibly my favorite place out of everywhere we visited. Here we explored traditional northern Italian cuisine, quaint walks through the town and breathtaking hikes up Latemar on the Dos Capèl Geotrail.

 [The beautiful view from atop Latemar]

Latemar Dos Capèl Geotrail

This trail challenged me a lot because I was sick, but I absolutely loved it. The temperature was perfect heading up; the chilly weather provided the most perfect conditions for the hike. I was in absolute amazement of the breathtaking beauty we experienced along the way. Alberto was a great guide, offering us information about the landscape that was enriching to our experience there. I enjoyed learning about the different rocks, specifically when he poured acid on the rocks to demonstrate that one had different elements and couldn’t be considered dolomite.

PERSONAL EXPLORATION

 [Double rainbow seen from the cable car in Bolzano]

 [Street in Bolzano]

  [Delicious dinner at Walther’s]