Discovering South Tyrol means experiencing both natural beauty and
cultural heritage. While the landscape is characterized by unspoiled nature, human additions are often intended to emphasize the area’s charms.
The centuries-old larch trees in the Ultental Valley are true natural monuments, and are regarded as the oldest conifers in Europe. Merano and its surroundings are home to various natural spectacles, including gorges, majestic waterfalls and high peaks.
The cultural heritage includes numerous churches and castles from across many centuries. These range from the ancient Prokuluskirche church in Naturns/Naturno, which preserves pre-Carolingian frescoes from the 7th century (the earliest Christian frescoes in Central Europe) to the Pfarrkirche Tisens parish church with its renowned glass paintings of the Augsburg school. Moreover, the Meran/Merano region has several interesting Romanesque churches and mountain churches, including the St. Margareten Kirche Lana church dating to the 10th century, St. Vigiluskirche church above Lana, St. Hippolyt in Naraun/Narano, St. Jakob in Tisens/Tesimo which displays the first frescoes of the Dolomites, and
St. Kathrein in Hafling/Avelengo.
Newer landmarks include the award-winning botanical
Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle east of Meran, and contemporary artworks like the
Knottnkino artwork above Vöran/Verano.