Sterzing (Italian: Vipiteno) is in South Tyrol. The city is just south of the Brenner Pass. This historic Alpine town is the main town of the Wipptal region and advertises itself as the gateway to South Tyrol.

Understand

Zwölferturm

The area was first setted in prehistoric times. Vipitenum is found in Roman records. The German name Sterzing was first mentioned in a document in 1180. The town received city rights under Count Meinhard II in 1280 and during this time, grew in size. The city is the crossing point of trade routes facilitated by the Alpine crossings of the Brenner Pass and this trade was the reason for its economic growth.

In the Middle Ages Sterzing was an important trading town. From the 15th century, silver mining became an important source of income in Ridnaun . The city continued to flourish, with magnificent patrician houses getting built. At its peak, Vipiteno was a trading hub, as well as the seat of the courts. Towards the end of the 16th century, the city lost some of its importance due to declining silver deposits. At this time, agriculture became a stronger economic force.

Tourism is a big source of income in modern times.

Get in

Sterzing is located directly on the Innsbruck-Brenner-Brixen-Bozen-Trento motorway ( A13-Brenner motorway, in Italy A22) to Bozen. The 1 Vipiteno train station is a station for Intercity and Eurocity trains. The nearest airport is in Bolzano, which is an hour away by car. Innsbruck is 90 minutes away, and both Verona and Munich are 2.5 hours away.

See

Our Lady of the Marsh parish church

• 1 Tower of the Twelve (German: Zwölferturm , Italian: Torre delle Dodici). The Zwölferturm is a 46 m. high tower erected in 1470, it is the symbol of the city that divides the New Town from Old Town. A fire in 1867 destroyed the original spire, which was replaced with the present embattled roof. (updated Jan 2022)
• 2 Our Lady of the Marsh parish church. This is the biggest church between Verona and Munich and was built from 1417 to 1451. The gothic altar, woodwork by Hans Multscher of Ulm, is 12 metres (39 ft) high and was completed in 1458. The church was later enlarged from 1497 to 1525 by Hans Lutz. In 1753, the church was then modified in baroque style, with paintings by Adam Mölk, and the gothic altar removed. (updated Jan 2022)
• 3 Saint Magdalena church - also known as Kapuzinerkirche (Capuchin church). The church was built in 1636 and was consecrated the following year to Saint Mary Magdalene; it has a rectangular apse and a lateral chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. (updated Jan 2022)
• 4 Saint Margaret Church (German: Margarethenkirche). The present church was built on the initiative of Bishop Paulinus Mayr in early Tyrolean baroque on a project of Peter Delai in 1678. The old church, mentioned for the first time in 1337, was restored and enlarged between 1459 and 1463 in gothic. In 1678, it was completely demolished, rebuilt, and consecrated in 1681. The bell tower is detached from the church and it comes from the previous church. In 1624, the Romanic tower was demolished and the church took its present form. (updated Jan 2022)
• 5 City Hall. M Tu Th F 08:00-12:30; W 08:00-13:00, 14:00-17:30. The City Hall of Sterzing was built between 1468 and 1473. It has a noteworthy collection of works of art which is open to visitors. (updated Jan 2022)
• 6 Reifenstein Castle (Italian: Castel Tasso). Constructed in 1110 AD, this castle is located a little outside of town. Originally built as a military outpost, around the 16th century, it was modified to serve as a residence. (updated Sep 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Parkhotel Zum Engel, Deutschhausstr. 20, ☏ +39 0472 765132, hotel@zum-engel.it. 
• 2 Hotel Wiesnerhof, Pfitscherstraße 98, ☏ +39 0472 765222, info@wiesnerhof.it. 
• 3 Hotel Lamm, Neustadt 16, ☏ +39 0472 765127, info@hotellamm.it. 
• 4 Hotel Mondschein, Frundsbergstraße 12, ☏ +39 0472 765 309, fax: +39 0472 766 810, info@hotelmondschein.it. 
• 5 Hotel Thuiner Waldele, Thuins 68, ☏ +39 0472 76 57 60, fax: +39 0472 76 30 99, info@thuinerwaldele.it. 
• 6 Sporthotel Kalcherhof, Kalch 4, Ratschings, ☏ +39 0472 756615, info@kalcherhof.com. 
• Romantikhotel Stafler, Mauls/Freienfeld 10, ☏ +39 0472 771 136, fax: +39 0472 771 094, romantikhotel@stafler.com. 

Go next

• Innsbruck. Travel the Brenner Pass into Austria, landing first in Innsbruck. (updated Apr 2022)
• Timmelsjoch - a more "complicated" way of getting into Austria, first across the Jaufenpass to St. Leonhard in Passeier, then across the Timmelsjoch to Sölden and the A13 Autobahn.