Brixen: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:BrixnerDom.jpg|thumb|Cathedral of Brixen.]] |
[[Image:BrixnerDom.jpg|thumb|Cathedral of Brixen.]] |
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'''Bressanone''' ({{lang-it|Bressanone}}; {{lang-de|Brixen}}; [[Ladin]]: ''Porsenù'' or ''Persenon''; {{lang-la|Brixino}}; also known as ''Pressena'' (827 AD), ''Prichsna'', ''Brixina'') is a town in the [[province of Bolzano-Bozen]] in the [[Italy|Italian]] region [[Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol]]. |
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The third largest city and oldest town in the province (first mentioned in 901), the artistic and cultural capital of the valley of the . It is located at the confluence of the [[Eisack]] and [[Rienz]] rivers, 40 km north of [[Bolzano]] and 45 km south of the [[Brenner Pass]], on the Italy-[[Austria]]n border. It is flanked on the eastern side by the Plose and Telegraph (Monte Telegrafo) mountains (2,504 m) and on the western side by the Königsanger (Monte Pascolo) (2,436 m) mountain. |
The third largest city and oldest town in the province (first mentioned in 901), the artistic and cultural capital of the valley of the . It is located at the confluence of the [[Eisack]] and [[Rienz]] rivers, 40 km north of [[Bolzano]] and 45 km south of the [[Brenner Pass]], on the Italy-[[Austria]]n border. It is flanked on the eastern side by the Plose and Telegraph (Monte Telegrafo) mountains (2,504 m) and on the western side by the Königsanger (Monte Pascolo) (2,436 m) mountain. |
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Revision as of 16:01, 26 November 2009
Bressanone | |
|---|---|
| Gemeinde Brixen Comune di Bressanone | |
 | |
Location of Bressanone  | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol |
| Province | Bolzano-Bozen (BZ) |
| Frazioni | see list |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Albert Pürgstaller |
| Area | |
| • Total | 84.86 km2 (32.76 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 560 m (1,840 ft) |
| Population (31 August 2008)[2] | |
| • Total | 20,296 |
| • Density | 240/km2 (620/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | German: Brixner Italian: Brissinesi |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 39042 |
| Dialing code | 0472 |
| Patron saint | Saint Albuin Saint Ingenuin |
| Saint day | February 2 |
| Website | Official website |
Bressanone (Italian: Bressanone; ‹See Tfd›German: Brixen; Ladin: Porsenù or Persenon; Latin: Brixino; also known as Pressena (827 AD), Prichsna, Brixina) is a town in the province of Bolzano-Bozen in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The third largest city and oldest town in the province (first mentioned in 901), the artistic and cultural capital of the valley of the . It is located at the confluence of the Eisack and Rienz rivers, 40 km north of Bolzano and 45 km south of the Brenner Pass, on the Italy-Austrian border. It is flanked on the eastern side by the Plose and Telegraph (Monte Telegrafo) mountains (2,504 m) and on the western side by the Königsanger (Monte Pascolo) (2,436 m) mountain.
The majority of the population speaks German as first language (73.13%). The remainder of the inhabitants speak Italian and Ladin as first languages, with percentages of 25.65% and 1.23%, respectively.[3]
Brixen is especially known as a major skiing resort (the Plose). Other activities include hydroelectric power, wool, orchards and vineyards.
History
The area of Brixen was settled since the Upper Paleolithic (8th millennium BC). Other settlements from the late Stone Age have been found, until, in 15 BC, the area was conquered by the Romans, who had their main settlement in the nearby Sabiona (Säben). They held it until around 590s, when it was occupied by Bavarians.
The first mention of Brixen dates to 901 in a document issued by the King of Germany Louis III the Child: in it, a territory called Maso Prihsna is assigned to Zacharia, bishop of Sabiona. As time passed, "Prihsna" turned into the current name of Brixen. The bishops moved here from Sabiona in 992, after the Cathedral had been finished.
In 1039 the Bishop of Brixen, Pappo, was elevated to Pope by emperor Henry III. However, his reign lasted only for 23 days. Yet in the same century, Brixen became the seat of an independent ecclesiastical principate which, in the following years, struggled for existence against the neighbouring county of Tyrol. In 1115 a first line of walls encircling Brixen was completed.
The bishopric was secularized in 1803 and annexed by the Austrian Empire. After the end of World War I Brixen was annexed by Italy.
Main sights
- The Cathedral (10th century), was rebuilt in the 13th century and again in 1745-1754 along Baroque lines. The ceiling of the nave has a large fresco by Paul Troger portraying the Adoration of the Lamb.
- The Renaissance Bishop's Palace (13th century), one of the main noble residences in the province of Bolzano-Bozen. The Diocesan Museum has several artworks, including a presepe with 5,000 figures created for Bishop Karl Franz Lodron.
- The round Parish church of San Michele (11th century). The Gothic choir and the bell tower are from the 15th century, while the nave is from the 16th. The main artwork is a wooden Cireneus from the 15th century.
- The "Pharmacy Museum" Pharmaziemuseum Brixen, located in a nearly 500 year old townhouse, shows the development and changes of the "City - Pharmacy". Since 1787 the family Peer runs (now in the 7th generation) this Pharmacy, always in the same location. In the museum you can view in carefully restored rooms the development of the pharmaceutical profession over the centuries and the changes in remedies used, starting from the testicles of a beaver or the pieces of an ancient Egyptian mummy and coming to modern plasters and lyophilisates. All the objects and medicines on display were in use in the run of the centuries. The Museum offers also a library for historical research and the archive of the Peer family. In a separate room the history of the family itself is shown by a multimedia application.
Outside the city is the Rodeneck Castle, one of the most powerful of its time. It has precious frescoes from the early 13th century. Also important are Reifenstein Castle and the Trostburg Castle in Waidbruck. In the later lived the adventurer and minstrel Oswald von Wolkenstein.
Transportation
Brixen has a railway station on the Brenner railway, which connects Verona, Italy to Innsbruck in Austrian Tyrol. In the future, this role of this railway line will be partially taken over by the Brenner Base Tunnel, which bypasses Brixen.
The town has two exits on the Brenner Highway to the Brenner Pass.
Events
Brixen is the host of the 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics.
Inhabitants
Legendary mountaineer Reinhold Messner was born in Brixen.
Frazioni
Frazioni / incorporated villages: Afers (Eores), Albeins (Albes), Elvas, Gereuth, Karnol, Klerant (Cleran), Kranebitt (Costa d'Elvas), Mahr (La Mara), Mairdorf, Mellaun (Meluno), Pairdorf (Perara), Pinzagen (Pinzago), Plabach, Rutzenberg, St. Andrä (S.Andrea), St. Leonhard (S.Leonardo), Sarns (Sarnes), Tils (Tiles), Tötschling (Tecelinga), Tschötsch (Scezze), Untereben.
Twin cities
Regensburg, Germany - since 1969
Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic - since 1992
Bled, Slovenia - since 2004
References
- ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ Oscar Benvenuto (ed.): "South Tyrol in Figures 2008", Provincial Statistics Institute of the Autonomous Province of South Tyrol, Bozen/Bolzano 2007, p. 16, table 10
