Merano

Quality 0.50 · 3 views · Updated 2 months ago

title: "Merano" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["merano", "spa-towns-in-italy", "roman-fortifications-in-raetia"] topic_path: "geography/italy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merano" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox Italian comune"]

FieldValue
nameMerano
official_nameComune di Merano
Stadtgemeinde Meran
native_namede
image_skylineMeran, Panorama (Blick vom Pulverturm).jpg
image_captionView of Merano
image_flagFlagge Meran.svg
image_shieldITA Merano COA.svg
coordinates
regionTrentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
provinceSouth Tyrol (BZ)
frazioniCentro (Altstadt), Maia Alta (Obermais), Maia Bassa (Untermais), Quarazze (Gratsch), Sinigo (Sinich), Labers
mayorKatharina Zeller
area_total_km226.34
population_total41051
population_as_of30-06-2018
population_demonymMeranese/Meraner
elevation_m325
saintSt Nicholas
dayDecember 6
postal_code39012
area_code0473
website
::

| name = Merano | official_name = Comune di Merano Stadtgemeinde Meran | native_name = de | image_skyline = Meran, Panorama (Blick vom Pulverturm).jpg | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = View of Merano | image_flag = Flagge Meran.svg | image_shield = ITA Merano COA.svg | shield_alt = | image_map = | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | region = Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol | province = South Tyrol (BZ) | frazioni = Centro (Altstadt), Maia Alta (Obermais), Maia Bassa (Untermais), Quarazze (Gratsch), Sinigo (Sinich), Labers | mayor_party = | mayor = Katharina Zeller | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 26.34 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 41051 | population_as_of = 30-06-2018 | pop_density_footnotes = | population_demonym = Meranese/Meraner | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 325 | twin1 = | twin1_country = | saint = St Nicholas | day = December 6 | postal_code = 39012 | area_code = 0473 | website = | footnotes =

Merano or Meran is a comune (municipality) in South Tyrol, Northern Italy. Generally best known for its spa resorts, it is located within a basin, surrounded by mountains standing up to 3335 m above sea level, at the entrance to the Passeier Valley and the Vinschgau.

The city has been a popular place of residence for several scientists, literary people, and artists, including Franz Kafka, Paul Lazarsfeld and also Empress Elisabeth of Austria, who appreciated its mild climate.

Name

Both the Italian (Merano) and the German (Meran) names for the city are used in English. The Ladin form of the name is Maran. The official name of the municipality (comune) is Comune di Merano in Italian and Stadtgemeinde Meran in German (both are in official use).

History

Archaic names of the city are Mairania (from AD 857) and an der Meran (from the 15th century). In 17th-century Latin, the city was called Meranum.

Origin

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Merano_MKL_Bd.11_1890(128501333).jpg" caption="Historical map of the city and surrounding area (1888)"] ::

The area has been inhabited since the third millennium BC, as shown by the presence of menhirs and other finds. The story of the city proper began in 15 BC when the Romans occupied the Adige valley founding a road station, Statio Maiensis.

The settlement was first mentioned in an 857 deed as Mairania. The Counts at Castle Tyrol elevated Merano to the status of a city during the 13th century and made it the capital of their County of Tyrol. After the county had been handed over to the Habsburg dynasty in 1363 upon the abdication of Margaret, Countess of Tyrol, in 1420 Duke Friedrich IV of Austria moved the Tyrolean court to Innsbruck. Though Merano remained the official capital until 1848, it subsequently lost its predominant position and almost all its importance as an economic hub across the roads connecting Italy and Germany. The important mint was also moved to Hall in Tirol in 1477.

Modern history

The Tyrolean Rebellion of 1809 against the French occupation drew attention again to Merano. In that year, on the Küchelberg above the city, a peasants' army eked out a victory against the united French and Bavarian forces before their revolt was finally crushed. After World War I, under the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Merano became part of the Kingdom of Italy with the rest of the southern part of the former Cisleithanian crown land of Tyrol.

During the Nazi occupation of the region in 1943–5, the Meranese Jewish population was almost completely deported and murdered within concentration camps.{{Citation |author=Sabine Mayr |contribution = The Annihilation of the Jewish Community of Meran |editor=Georg Grote, Hannes Obermair|title=A Land on the Threshold. South Tyrolean Transformations, 1915–2015|year=2017|publisher=Peter Lang|location=Oxford, Bern, New York|isbn=978-3-0343-2240-9|pages= 53–75}}

Coat of arms

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Postbruecke_Meran_3.jpg" caption="The city's coat of arms on the ''Postbrücke'' (postal bridge)"] ::

The city's coat of arms depicts the red Tyrolean eagle sitting on a wall with four pieces of Ghibelline battlements and three arches that symbolize the city. The arms is known from the 14th century and the oldest seal dates from 1353, while the coloured one since 1390. In a 1759 image, the eagle is represented with a crown and a green wreath of honour. After World War I and the annexation of the city from Austria-Hungary to Italy, it was given a new coat of arms in 1928, which looked similar to the old one, but with five parts of the battlements and the arches with the gates opened on a lawn of shamrock. A mural crown was placed above the shield. The five parts of the battlement represented the districts of Maia Bassa, Merano (old city), Maia Alta, Quarazze and Avelengo, which were incorporated into the city by the Italian fascists. After World War II, Avelengo became independent again and the historical coat of arms was restored.

Main sights

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Il_duomo_di_merano.jpg" caption="St. Nicholas' Church"] ::

Among the city's landmarks are the medieval city gates such as the Vinschgauer Tor, Passeirer Tor, and the Bozener Tor. Also belonging to the fortifications is the medieval Ortenstein tower, popularly called Pulverturm (lit. "powder tower").

The main churches are the Gothic St. Nicholas' Church and the St. Barbara's Chapel, both dating to the 15th century. Also dating to this period is the Princely Castle (Landesfürstliche Burg), which was a residence of Archduke Sigismund of Austria.

The Steinerner Steg stone bridge crosses the Passer river and dates to the 17th century.

The city saw further development as it became increasingly popular as a spa resort, especially after Empress Elisabeth of Austria started visiting. Dating from the 19th century are the Civic Theatre, the Kurhaus and the Empress Elisabeth Park. Also famous are the arched Wandelhalle promenades along the river.

After the annexation of the city by Italy in 1919, the Fascist authorities constructed the new city hall in the 1920s.

Outside the city is Trauttmansdorff Castle and its gardens. Located there is the Museum of Tourism, which was opened in the spring of 2003 and shows the historical development of tourism in the province. Tirol Castle is also close by.

Climate

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Merano_as_seen_from_the_Hochmuth.jpg" caption="Merano as seen from the Hochmuth"] ::

Merano is on the borderline between several climates. Officially, it has an oceanic climate (Cfb). However, it is close to being humid subtropical (Cfa) due to the mean temperature in July being just under 22 °C; even on those terms, the overnight lows in the winter bring the mean temperatures low enough for the city as a whole to have continental (Dfa/Dfb) influences with more distinct seasons.

The average daily temperatures in summer in Merano lie between 27 and 30 °C, while at night temperatures usually drop to between 12 and 15 °C. The average daily temperatures in winter lie between 6 and 10 °C, while at night temperatures usually drop to between -4 and -2 °C. The wettest month is August with 96 mm, while the driest is February with only 25 mm. This data was measured at the weather station Merano/Gratsch at an altitude of 333 metres between 1983 and 2017.

|location = Merano (1983–2017) |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Jan record high C = 21 |Feb record high C = 23 |Mar record high C = 27 |Apr record high C = 31 |May record high C = 37 |Jun record high C = 39 |Jul record high C = 40 |Aug record high C = 40 |Sep record high C = 35 |Oct record high C = 29 |Nov record high C = 21 |Dec record high C = 19 |year record high C = 40 |Jan high C = 6.4 |Feb high C = 9.6 |Mar high C = 15.1 |Apr high C = 18.8 |May high C = 23.5 |Jun high C = 27.2 |Jul high C = 29.6 |Aug high C = 28.6 |Sep high C = 23.7 |Oct high C = 17.9 |Nov high C = 10.9 |Dec high C = 6.5 |year high C = 18.2 |Jan mean C = 1.3 |Feb mean C = 3.8 |Mar mean C = 8.4 |Apr mean C = 12.0 |May mean C = 16.4 |Jun mean C = 19.8 |Jul mean C = 21.9 |Aug mean C = 21.3 |Sep mean C = 17.1 |Oct mean C = 12.1 |Nov mean C = 5.7 |Dec mean C = 1.7 |year mean C = 11.8 |Jan low C = -4.0 |Feb low C = -2.3 |Mar low C = 1.6 |Apr low C = 5.0 |May low C = 9.3 |Jun low C = 12.4 |Jul low C = 14.2 |Aug low C = 13.9 |Sep low C = 10.2 |Oct low C = 6.1 |Nov low C = 0.5 |Dec low C = -3.3 |year low C = 5.3 |Jan record low C = -19 |Feb record low C = -13 |Mar record low C = -12 |Apr record low C = -4 |May record low C = -2 |Jun record low C = 2 |Jul record low C = 2 |Aug record low C = 1 |Sep record low C = -2 |Oct record low C = -8 |Nov record low C = -10 |Dec record low C = -13 |year record low C = -19 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 26.4 |Feb precipitation mm = 24.5 |Mar precipitation mm = 36.9 |Apr precipitation mm = 61.7 |May precipitation mm = 80.0 |Jun precipitation mm = 94.7 |Jul precipitation mm = 83.8 |Aug precipitation mm = 96.3 |Sep precipitation mm = 72.3 |Oct precipitation mm = 74.9 |Nov precipitation mm = 84.5 |Dec precipitation mm = 37.9 |year precipitation mm = 773.8 |source 1 = Landeswetterdienst Südtirol{{cite web | url = http://www.provinz.bz.it/wetter/download/23200MS-TS-MeranoQuarazze-MeranGratsch.xls | title = 23200MS-TS-MeranoQuarazze-MeranGratsch.xls | work = Monatswerte Temperaturen | publisher = Landeswetterdienst Südtirol | access-date = 8 August 2018}}{{cite web | url = http://www.provinz.bz.it/wetter/download/23200MS-PS-MeranoQuarazze-MeranGratsch.xls | title = 23200MS-PS-MeranoQuarazze-MeranGratsch.xls | work = Monatswerte Niederschläge | publisher = Landeswetterdienst Südtirol | access-date = 8 August 2018}} |date=August 2018

Culture

Food

The area is well known for its wines, both white and red, and vineyards extend right into the city. The local wine, Meraner Leiten (Meranese di collina), is a light red wine, best drunk young. There are also extensive orchards, and apples are exported throughout Europe. The Forst Brewery on the edge of the city produces a popular range of beers, sold throughout Italy and Europe.

Cultural events

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Meraner_Advent-_Passerpromenade-_Kurhaus-_Meran.jpg" caption="Christmas market Merano"] ::

Merano organizes the following events every year.

  • Asfaltart
  • Festival MeranOJazz
  • Meraner Musikwochen
  • Christmas market Merano
  • Merano WineFestival Every second year, the literature competition Merano Poetry Prize (Lyrikpreis Meran) is held in Merano.

People

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Fürstengang_Bischöfe_04_-_Arbeo.jpg" caption="Arbeo of Freising"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Wenzl_Weis_-_Rudolf_Slatin,_um_1910.jpg" caption="Rudolf Slatin, 1910"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Leo_Putz_Selbstportrait.jpg" caption="Leo Putz, self portrait, 1914"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Rodel-Weltcup-2005-Oberhof-Zoeggeler_cropped.jpg" caption="Armin Zöggeler, 2005"] ::

Early times

19th century

20th century

Sport

Economy

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Meran_Bahnhof_01.jpg" caption="Merano railway station"] ::

Merano is a popular tourist destination especially for Germans and Italians. In the summer, there are concerts on the promenade almost daily, and there are fine walks around the city and in the surrounding hills, not least "Meran/o 2000", where there is also skiing in winter. The city is reachable with the railway Bolzano-Merano, which continues to the Vinschgau Railway Merano-Malles.

Society

According to the 2024 census, 51.37% of the resident population spoke Italian as first language, 48.26% German, and 0.37% Ladin.

Sport

A chess opening, the Meran Variation of the Semi-Slav Defense, is named after the city, from its successful use by Akiba Rubinstein against Ernst Grünfeld during a tournament held in the city in 1924. In 1981, the World Chess Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi was held in Merano. The first act of the musical Chess also has a world chess championship match set in Merano, and features a song entitled "Merano", which includes the line, "rosy-cheeked Merano, flourishing to a fault".

The city's handball team, , is one of the most successful in Italy, winning the scudetto in 2005. The ice hockey team won two national championships but currently plays in the second division, Serie B.

Each September, the Gran Premio Merano takes place in the Maia Racecourse; this is the most famous Italian Steeplechase.

Merano hosted the 1953, 1971 and 1983 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships. This is where the well known 'Merano' move was created due to a tricky upstream gate. This move is now used and well known by many slalom paddlers worldwide.

Twin towns and sister cities

The twin towns and sister cities are:

Notes

References

References

  1. "Merano". [[HarperCollins]].
  2. {{Cite Merriam-Webster. Merano
  3. Egon Kühebacher, ''Die Ortsnamen Südtirols'', Vol. 1 (2000), lemma ''Meran''
  4. [[Johann Jacob Hofmann]], ''[[Lexicon Universale]]'' (1698), lemma [http://www.uni-mannheim.de/mateo/camenaref/hofmann/hof4/s0588b.html 'Tirolis']
  5. "Museum Burg Hasegg/Münze Hall in Tirol - MÜNZ&AUFTRAGSPRÄGUNG".
  6. Ralf Hartemink. (1996). "Meran – Merano". Heraldry of the World.
  7. Gryffindor. (2011). "Image of the coat of arms during the Italian fascist period". Wikimedia Commons.
  8. Prünster, Hans. (1972). "Die Wappen der Gemeinden Südtirols". Landesverband für Heimatpflege in Südtirol.
  9. Gall, Franz. (1960). "Österreichischer Wappenkalender".
  10. Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book 2006
  11. {{Cite EB1911
  12. {{Cite EB1911
  13. {{Cite EB1911
  14. {{Cite EB1911. Abrahams. Israel
  15. {{cite EB1922
  16. [[:de:Ferdinand Behrens. German Wiki, Ferdinand Behrens]]
  17. [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0718174/ IMDb Database] retrieved 22 June 2019
  18. [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1756910/ IMDb Database] retrieved 22 June 2019
  19. [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0303350/ IMDb Database] retrieved 22 June 2019
  20. [[:it:Arnaldo Di Benedetto. Italian Wiki, Arnaldo Di Benedetto]]
  21. [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0135320/ IMDb Database] retrieved 22 June 2019
  22. [http://www.icc-cpi.int/Menus/ICC/Structure+of+the+Court/Chambers/The+Judges/The+Judges/Judge+Cuno+TARFUSSER/Judge+Cuno+Jakob+TARFUSSER+Italy.htm Biography of Judge Cuno Jakob TARFUSSER]{{webarchive. link. (June 27, 2009)
  23. [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0346708/ IMDb Database] retrieved 22 June 2019
  24. (December 2024). "Ergebnisse Sprachgruppenzählung 2024/Risultati Censimento linguistico 2024". Provincial Statistics Institute of the Autonomous Province of South Tyrol.
  25. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/29/crosswords/chess/29chess.html "An Opening Created in 1924 Still Leads to Complex Battles"], ''New York Times'', 29 January 2006

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

meranospa-towns-in-italyroman-fortifications-in-raetia