South Tyrol
South Tyrol (
German Südtirol,
Italian Alto Adige or
Sudtirolo,
Ladin Sudtirol) is an autonomous
province of
Italy. It shouldn't be confused with the autonomous
region of
Trentino-South Tyrol, of which it is a subdivison. South Tyrol's extensive autonomy makes it
de facto comparable to an autonomous region of Italy.
In the aftermath of
World War I a relevant part of Austrian
Tyrol was occupied by
Italy, and subsequently annexed. The areas around
Trento formed Italian-speaking
Trentino. In the north the valleys around
Bozen/Bolzano were inhabited by ethnic Germans and
Ladins (Today Ladin is the third official language of South Tyrol, alongside German and Italian.)
After the rise of
Fascism in
1922 a policy of de-Germanization was carried on ruthlessly. All places, up to the tiniest hamlet, were given Italian names, and even some family names were translated.
With the
Treaty of Gruber-De Gasperi the winner of WWII decided to give South Tyrol to Italy but at the same time the German-speaking people were granted special rights.
Today South Tyrol (i.e. the
Province of Bozen-Südtirol or Bolzano-Alto Adige) enjoys a high degree of autonomy, and relations with
North and East Tyrol - the two portions of the old state retained by
Austria - are lively, especially since
Austria joined the
European Union. There is a
South Tyrolean People's Party, or Südtiroler Volkspartei. However, toponymes (names of places) still have two (German/Italian) or three (Ladin/German/Italian) versions.
According to the
2001 census more than two third of the population is German speaking (69.4 %), the second largest language is Italian (26.3 %), followed by Ladin (4.3 %).
Famous names
Freedom fighters:\n* Andreas Hofer\n* Sepp Kerschbaumer\n* Georg Klotz\n* Kanonikus Michael Gamper
Revolutionaries:\n* Michael Gaismair
Inventors and scientists:\n* Peter Mitterhofer\n* Johann Kravogl\n* Jakob Eisendle\n* Max Valier
\nOthers:\n* Reinhold Messner\n* Gilbert & George Artists \n* Luis Trenker \n* Walther von der Vogelweide \n* Oswald von Wolkenstein \n* Giorgio Moroder \n* Ötzi the Iceman
Castles
- Bruneck (Castle)\n* Ehrenburg\n* Hocheppan\n* Juval\n* Laimburg\n* Maretsch\n* Marienberg\n* Muri Gries\n* Neustift\n* Rafenstein\n* Reifenstein\n* Ried\n* Rinkelstein\n* Sigmundskron \n* Sprechenstein\n* Tirol (Castle)\n* Wehrburg\n* Wolkenstein
Mountains
Subdivision
\nSouth Tyrol is divided into several (116) administrative regions/Villages (Gemeinden//Communes):
\n| German-Italian names:\n |
| \n*Abtei-Badia\n*Ahrntal-Valle Aurina\n*Aldein-Aldino\n*Algund-Lagundo\n*Altrei-Anterivo\n*Andrian-Andriano\n*Auer-Ora\n*Barbian-Barbiano\n*Bozen-Bolzano\n*Branzoll-Bronzolo\n*Brenner-Brennero\n*Brixen-Bressanone\n*Bruneck-Brunico\n*Burgstall-Postal\n*Corvara-Corvara in Badia\n*Deutschnofen-Nova Ponente\n*Enneberg-Mareo-Marebbe\n*Eppan a.d.W.-Appiano s.S.d.V\n*Feldthurns-Velturno\n*Franzensfeste-Fortezza\n*Freienfeld-Campo di Trens\n*Gais-Gais\n*Gargazon-Gargazzone\n*Glurns-Glorenza\n*Graun-Curon\n*Gsies-Valle di Casies\n*Hafling-Avelengo\n*Innichen-San Candido\n*Jenesien-San Genesio\n*Kaltern-Caldaro\n*Karneid-Cornedo all'Isarco\n*Kastelbell - Tschars-Castelbello - Ciardes\n*Kastelruth-Castelrotto\n*Kiens-Chienes\n*Klausen-Chiusa\n*Kuens-Caines\n*Kurtatsch a.d.W.-Cortaccia s.S.d.V\n*Kurtinig a.d.W.-Cortina s.S.d.V\n*Laas-Lasa\n*Lajen-Laion\n*Lana-Lana\n*Latsch-Laces\n*Laurein-Lauregno\n*Leifers-Laives\n | \n*Lüsen-Luson\n*Mals-Malles Venosta\n*Margreid a.d.W.-Magrè s.S.d.V\n*Marling-Marlengo\n*Martell-Martello\n*Meran-Merano\n*Mölten-Meltina\n*Montan-Montagna\n*Moos-Moso in Passiria\n*Mühlbach-Rio di Pusteria\n*Mühlwald-Selva dei Molini\n*Nals-Nalles\n*Naturns-Naturno\n*Natz- Schabs-Naz- Sciaves\n*Neumarkt-Egna\n*Niederdorf-Villa Bassa\n*Olang-Valdaora\n*Partschins-Parcines\n*Percha-Perca\n*Pfalzen-Falzes\n*Pfatten-Vadena\n*Pfitsch-Val di Vizze\n*Plaus-Plaus\n*Prad am Stilfserjoch-Prato allo Stelvio\n*Prags-Braies\n*Prettau-Predoi\n*Proveis-Proves\n*Rasen - Antholz-Rasun - Anterselva\n*Ratschings-Racines\n*Riffian-Rifiano\n*Ritten-Renon\n*Rodeneck-Rodengo\n*Salurn-Salorno\n*Sand in Taufers-Campo Tures\n*St. Christina in Gröden-S.Crestina Gherdëina-S. Cristina Val Gardena\n*St. Leonhard in Passeier-S. Leonardo in Passiria\n*St. Lorenzen-S. Lorenzo di Sebato\n*St. Martin in Passeier-S. Martino in Passiria\n*St. Martin in Thurn-S.Martin de Tor-S. Martino in Badia\n*St. Pankraz-S. Pancrazio\n | \n*St. Ulrich in Gröden-Urtijëi-Ortisei\n*Sarntal-Sarentino\n*Schenna-Scena\n*Schlanders-Silandro\n*Schluderns-Sluderno\n*Schnals-Senales\n*Sexten-Sesto\n*Sterzing-Vipiteno\n*Stilfs-Stelvio\n*Taufers im Münstertal-Tubre\n*Terenten-Terento\n*Terlan-Terlano\n*Tiers-Tires\n*Tirol-Tirolo\n*Tisens-Tesimo\n*Toblach-Dobbiaco\n*Tramin a.d.W.-Termeno s.S.d.V\n*Truden-Trodena\n*Tscherms-Cermes\n*Ulten-Ultimo\n*U. l. Frau - St. Felix-Senale - San Felice\n*Vahrn-Varna\n*Villanders-Villandro\n*Villnöss-Funes\n*Vintl-Vandoies\n*Völs-Fiè allo Sciliar\n*Vöran-Verano\n*Waidbruck-Ponte Gardena\n*Welsberg-Monguelfo\n*Welschnofen-Nova Levante\n*Wengen-La Val-La Valle\n*Wolkenstein-Sëlva Gherdëina-Selva di Val Gardena\n |
External links
\n*Südtirol - the official tourism website\n*
Civic network of South Tyrol - Official site of the Autonomous Province of Bozen - South Tyrol\n*
Details of the autonomy statute South Tyrol
