Tappeiner Trail

The Tappeiner Promenade is 3,184 metres long, starts in Quarazze and ends in Via Monte San Zeno, where it connects with the Gilf Promenade. The path runs along the slopes of Monte Benedetto, 80 metres above the town.

The walk is named after Dr Franz Tappeiner, a doctor born in Lasa in 1816 and died in Merano in 1902. As well as being an advocate of outdoor living, Franz Tappeiner was a distinguished anthropologist and botanist of European fame. In his lifetime, he managed to collect more than 6,000 plant species. The promenade was his gift to the town of Merano. It was built in three separate periods starting in 1893 and ending in 1928.

The Tappeinerweg Trail is an incredibly intense moment for the senses. It is possible to admire the enchanting, exotic vegetation among the autochthonous flora, native to the subtropical and Mediterranean climate. About a hundred vegetation species are indicated with a plaque to the visitor, who can ideally take a trip to distant countries while remaining close to the Dolomites. On this fascinating journey through the lush vegetation, worthy of attention are the rocks between the Gunpowder Tower and the Herb Garden, marked by numerous striations that bear witness to the glaciers' erosive action in ancient times. They are considered natural monument. The Tappeiner Promenade also offers a panorama of the entire Adige Valley. From the terrace around the Gunpowder Tower, an ancient medieval fortification, the superb spectacle of the town of Merano awaits you right below. The sense of smell is also significantly stimulated along the way. The Herb Garden and the Fragrance Garden, a terrace with, among other things, an extraordinary Californian laurel plant - a laurel that is quite rare in these latitudes and is characterised by an incredibly intense aroma - are particularly fascinating.

The Tappeinerweg is suitable for any pace. Brisk walking stimulates endorphins production, which means you feel in better shape, both physically and mentally. Initially, count your steps, focus on your speed and start regenerating. Pay mindful attention to what you are doing, and you will obtain both psychological and physical benefits. By consciously walking, you will regain a sensitivity that seems to be lost in our hectic daily life: today, everyone struggles to live in the here and now, to "feel" what the body needs. The first benefit will be to reduce stress with immediate relief for the body and mind.

The latest research shows that people who regularly walk every day do, unconsciously, their brain an excellent service. While walking, the blood circulates faster, simultaneously increasing the brain's amount of oxygen and glucose. This is because walking is an energy-saving activity.
The oxygenated brain is naturally "fresher". People who walk regularly can concentrate better and for longer and are also more receptive to learning. All it takes is 20 minutes a day to improve memory, and it seems that this is how memory loss decrease, even in advanced age.

The Tappeinerweg Trail is particularly well suited for a relatively new and increasingly popular movement technique: the "retro running". According to studies conducted at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, walking backwards has considerable physical benefits. Oxygen and calorie consumption are significantly higher than with traditional walking. The cardiovascular system also benefits. Furthermore, there is less pressure on the joints as the impact on the ground is reduced. This way of walking also has a positive effect on balance.
In terms of overall physical well-being, it seems that 100 steps taken backwards are equivalent to 1,000 steps forward. Many people would thus be able to engage in healthy outdoor exercise with little time investment. The Tappeinerweg Trail is wide enough to allow this type of activity and is safe for walkers. Nevertheless, it is recommended to be careful, if only out of respect for other visitors.

Studies have confirmed that colours have therapeutic effects, both physical and psychological. It is necessary to remember the theory of colours formulated by Isaac Newton in 1666. By letting sunlight pass through a prism, Newton demonstrated the existence of a spectrum of seven colours. Their wavelengths distinguish the different colours and their speed through space, from the shorter wavelengths of reds, which have a stimulating effect, to the longer wavelengths of blues and purples, which have a calming impact.

When sunlight, which contains all colours, comes into contact with our bodies, it refracts the light just like the prism. In this way, colours have a beneficial effect on the internal organs, including the brain. Observing them activates different brain areas: the one that controls the heartbeat, blood pressure, hormonal processes, memory and even the one where emotions originate. When walking on the Tappeiner, we can see and absorb countless colours depending on the season. By dwelling on the different flowers, we can experience the healing power of colour therapy.

Visitors also have psychological benefits that stimulate thinking. This theory was put forward by the American writer Rebecca Solnit. People who walk manage to keep up with the times more efficiently. The mind distances itself from plans, memories and observations. The rhythm of walking creates a rhythm of thinking, and as we walk through a landscape, we make our way through our thoughts. In this way, a strange correspondence between the inner and outer locations is created. We can think of walking as visual activity, each walk as a journey to add new impressions to those we already know. Based on this theory, walking fast or slow means ordering one's thoughts, freeing them from the unessential and leaving room for creativity.