The architecture of South Tyrol/Südtirol embodies a fusion of the past and the present, characterized by the contrast between the shapes and forms of the countryside and those of the urban environment. In the meeting of these elements is the unique charm expressed across the region. While the valleys and small villages are dotted with old farmhouses, ancient wineries and traditional huts and shelters in the mountains, the cities are filled with both historic and contemporary buildings and numerous monuments, from the Romanesque era to magnificent Art Nouveau buildings like the central Kurhaus and on to contemporary architecture such as the Terme Merano thermal baths, an elegant jewel of design in glass and wood.
The surrounding areas around Merano/Meran are equally notable for their modern architecture, including the Nals-Margreid and Meran Burggräfler wineries as well as the Merano 2000 Cable Car, the winner of several international architectural awards. In order to point out some of the city’s notable architectural gems, 30 fixed steel telescopes (Hingucker) have been installed in Merano and its surroundings, pointed at places of historical and cultural interest.