Discovering South Tyrol/Südtirol 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 Val d’Ultimo/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 Naturno/Naturns, 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 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 Narano/Nauraun, St. Jakob in Tesimo/Tisens which displays the first frescoes of the Dolomites, and St. Kathrein in Avelengo/Hafling.
Newer landmarks include the award-winning botanical Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle east of Merano, and contemporary artworks like the Knottnkino artwork above Verano/Vöran.