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Bozen ( German ) or '''Bolzano''' ( Italian ) is a city in the South Tyrol region of Italy . It is the Capital of the autonomous province of South Tyrol (German ''Südtirol'', Italian ''Alto Adige''). The province is officially trilingual ( Ladin being the third spoken language). The province covers an area of 7,400 sq. km, with 116 communes and 462,999 inhabitants (2001 census). The province recorded a population gain of 5,1% from 1991 to 2001. The province is almost completely mountainous, it's main river is the Etsch - Adige ; other important rivers are Eisack-Isarco , forming the Eisack-Isarco Valley , and Rienz-Rienza that flows in Puster-Pusteria Valley . The easternmost part of the province belongs to the Drave basin, tributary of the Danube . The University of Bozen-Bolzano is where the ice-mummy " Ötzi " is kept. The city is also the home of the Italian Army 's Alpini High Command- COMALP and some of its combat and support units. HISTORY Initially inhabited by the Rhaetian s, the area was settled by the Romans in 15 BC, by general Nero Claudius Drusus , who gave the original town its Roman name, Pons Drusi. The city name later became '''Bauzanum'''. Bozen-Bolzano has been a trading point since its foundation and elevation to a city over 800 years ago, due to its location in between the two major cities of Venice and Augsburg . Four times a year a market was held and traders came from the south and the north. The mercantile magistrate was therefore founded in 1635 . Every market season two German and Italian officers (appointed from the traders who operated there) worked in this office. The city was a cultural crosspoint at that time. In '' or "Option"). Almost 80 per cent chose to go to Germany. Nazis officials meanwhile planned to resettle ethnic south Tyroleans in German-occupied territories such as Luxemburg or Crimea . However, when Fascism collapsed in 1943 , emigration came to a standstill. This period was very traumatic for the German-speaking population, and rivalries and tensions emerged between those who had chosen emigration to Germany (the ''Optanten'') and those who had stayed (the ''Dableiber''). Altogether only a third of the 75,000 who actually made the trek northward came back after 1945 . SOCIETY AND ECONOMY After World War II Italy, then led by Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi (a Trentino native and a former member of the '' Reichsrat '' Parliament in Vienna before 1914 ) and Austrian Chancellor Gruber signed an agreement that would have guaranteed the province a substantial degree of autonomy. However, Bozen-Bolzano was incorportad in the larger Trentino-South Tyrol region that had an overall Italian-speaking majority. However, the implementation of the UN-brokered Treaty Between Italy And Austria fell short of local expectations. Ethnic tensions resurfaced, culminating in a wave of bombings and acts of Sabotage during the 1960 s by South Tyrolean activists. Apparently some cooperated with neo-Nazi groups in Austria and Germany. Only after a new autonomy package was negotiated in 1969 - 1972 and the province of Bozen-Bolzano was given a greater autonomy from the Italian central government, did ethnic clashes subside. The autonomy package took 20 years before it was fully implemented. This, and the determined defense of their culture and language, has allowed the German speaking population to avoid assimilation. Instead, Italian-speaking ''Alto Atesini'' or Upper Atesins began complaining of discrimination. As part of the autonomy package, the province of South Tyrol became autonomous and German, Italian and Ladin became official languages. The city changed its official name to Bozen-Bolzano in order to reflect the multicultural status. Other towns and villages throughout South Tyrol also received double-names. According to the 2001 census, 73% of the city inhabitants were Italian speakers. Of the remainder, 23% speak German and 1% Ladin as their First Language . Outside of the city Bozen-Bolzano the majority of inhabitants speak German as first language (according to 2001 census, there are approx. 330,000 German-speaking South Tyroleans among 475,000 inhabitants of South Tyrol). There are many bilingual people. A small minority of people speak Ladin . South Tyrolean society is still to some extent segmented across ethnic lines. Because of its special autonomy and the unique industrious and collaborative culture, Bozen-Bolzano is one of the richest cities in Italy. It enjoyes a very high standard of living, ranking consistently among the top cities nationwide. ''See the article on South Tyrol for more information.'' The city thrives on a mix of old and new—high-quality intensive Agriculture (including Wine , Fruit and Dairy Product s), Tourism , traditional Handicraft (wood, ceramics) and advanced Service s. Heavy Industry (machinery, automotive, steel) installed during the 1930 's has now been mostly dismanteled. On the downside, the local economy is very dependent on the Public Sector , and especially the autonomous province government. MAIN SIGHTS ]] The city's Austrian character, enhanced by the narrow cobblestone streets, Austrian-style churches and pervasive bilingual signage give it the unique flavour of a city at crossroads between Italian and Austrian cultures. This, and its natural and cultural attractions make it a renowned tourist destination. Among the major monuments and sights are:
For more (historical & geographical) information, see South Tyrol . CITY DISTRICTS AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES City districts:
Neighbouring communities are: Eppan-Appiano , Kardaun-Cornedo , Leifers-Laives , Deutschnofen-Nova Ponente , Ritten-Renon , Jenesien-San Genesio , Terlan-Terlano , Pfatten-Vadena Other important nearby towns are Brixen-Bressanone , Bruneck-Brunico and Meran-Merano . TWIN CITIES Highway A22-E45 to Trento and Verona and to Innsbruck and Munich . Railway (main line between Italy and Germany). SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |