The
town Merano is truly a garden city. It is no coincidence that in 2015 it received the Gold Award from Entente Florale, which promotes greener and more liveable cities across Europe. Nowhere else in Südtirol does such a rich variety of plants flourish: alongside palm trees, cypresses and kiwi vines, firs and larches also reach towards the sky. Lovingly maintained public parks ensure fresh greenery even during the winter months, while enchanting private gardens harmoniously complement the extensive park landscapes of the Merano region.
A special highlight are the
Kränzelhof Gardens in the village of Tscherms. Covering around 20,000 square metres, this impressive land art project features a 3,300-square-metre labyrinth as well as rotating exhibitions of contemporary sculptures and installations. Behind the romantic Temple of Love in the Yin & Yang Garden, a green amphitheatre opens up, uniquely combining nature and art.
Another jewel are
the gardens of Trauttmansdorff castle near Merano. Since 2001, they have showcased more than 80 garden landscapes from around the world, complemented by sunny terraces and extraordinary interactive attractions. Artists’ pavilions, a spectacular viewing platform designed by architect Matteo Thun, a “Botanical Underworld” and a “Garden for Lovers”, created to mark the gardens’ 15th anniversary, turn every visit into an inspiring journey of discovery. Thanks to their exceptional appearance and impressive design, the gardens were named Italy’s most beautiful garden in 2005 and ranked “Europe’s No. 6 Garden” in 2006. In 2013, they received the title “International Garden of the Year”, placing them among the most beautiful green spaces worldwide.
From the magnificent bloom of thousands of tulips in spring to the vibrant colours of autumn, the gardens delight visitors throughout the year with
special events: from the “Family Day” in spring and picnics by the water lily pond to culinary evenings under the motto “Trauttmansdorff After Work”. During the winter months, the popular “
Lumagica – the Magical Light Park” returns.
At the heart of the gardens stands the magnificent Castle Trauttmansdorff. Once the winter residence of Elisabeth from Austria, better known as Empress Sisi, it is now home to South Tyrol Museum of Tourism, or
Touriseum for short. This was the first museum of its kind in the Alpine region and is dedicated to the history of tourism. On an entertaining tour through 20 rooms, visitors embark on a journey through 250 years of tourism history in the Alps.