Description of the attraction
Walterplatz is Bolzano's main square, located in the heart of the old town and named after the medieval poet Walter von der Vogelweide. It is here, in this square, that the Christmas and Flower Markets are held, as well as the Pumpkin Festival. By the way, the famous Christmas market annually attracts up to a million visitors!
Walterplatz was founded in 1808 on the site of a vineyard owned by the Bavarian royal family. King Maximilian sold the vineyard to the municipality of Bolzano for 3,000 florins, on the condition that it be turned into a square. Gradually, houses and hotels began to be built around - one of the first was “Hotel Greif”. During those years, Bolzano, thanks to its mild climate and beautiful surrounding landscapes, as well as well-preserved medieval buildings, became a popular tourist destination. The first luxury hotels were built to accommodate numerous aristocratic tourists.
In 1889, a statue of the poet Walter von der Vogelweide, who lived between 1168 and 1228, was erected in the center of the square. During the years of the fascist regime, it was removed from here, but later returned to its place. Bolzano Cathedral, the train station, and various historic buildings that today house banks, cafés and restaurants are visible nearby. I must say that in different years the square had different names - Maximilian Platz in honor of the Bavarian king, Johannas Platz, Walterplatz, then Vittorio Emmanuele Square, Madonna Square and, finally, Walterplatz again. During its not very long history, this square has seen many historical figures - Napoleon, Emperor Franz Joseph, his heir Charles I, Italian king Victor Emmanuel III and Mussolini.
