Bolzano Cathedral

The former parish church of Gries was first mentioned in 1141, when it was a Romanesque church. Later renovated in Gothic style, Romanesque elements, such as a crucifix dating from the 13th century, are still to be found inside the church. Still inside, the triptych altar made of carved wood is a work of the famous Tyrolean sculptor Michael Pacher (1435-1498).

The monastery of Sabiona (in German Kloster Säben) is the spiritual cradle of the entire Tyrol and is one of the oldest Christian monuments in the Alps. The current monastery’s building was founded in 1687 on a site used by bishops since the 6th century. Currently and for almost three hundred years, the monastery has been the seat of a community of Benedictine nuns, who are currently only 11 and live in seclusion.

The Church of St. Nicholas or Cathedral of Merano dates back to the 13th century. In 1367 a new choir was consecrated, rebuilt in Gothic style. The hall was rebuilt with a nave and two aisles and rotated in relation to the axis of the choir. The roof was built in 1450-1460 by Stefan Tobler from Burghausen, who built the Gothic cross vaults supported by round pillars. The 83-metre high bell tower is one of the most impressive in South Tyrol. Its construction took almost three centuries and was carried out in several stages: the three lowest floors were built between the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1617, the "Italian dome" was built.