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A town that’s right for you

Lit pedestrian street with colorful historic buildings and clock tower at night

Some love the picturesque new town with its arcades, others the cosy squares with their cafés and bars. Some are all about the mountains, while others adore the little boutiques or hitting challenging bike and hiking trails. Sterzing doesn’t fit neatly into one box. What makes the medieval town on the Isarco/Eisack river so unique? It’s exactly what you’re looking for. Not just a pretty backdrop, but a vibrant part of your holiday. Welcome to Sterzing.

Woman climbing stairs inside a rustic stone-walled house

From Vipitenum to Sterzing

The town’s origins can be traced back to Roman times, when it was known as Vipitenum – which can still be seen in the town’s Italian name, “Vipiteno”, today. During the Middle Ages, Sterzing developed into an important trade centre and checkpoint on the trade route over the Alps. The town belonged to the Duchy of Bavaria and later the Habsburg empire before becoming part of Italy following the First World War.

Couple looking at snowy town with Christmas lights and tree at night

Old and new town

One street runs straight through the town centre from north to south. The Zwölferturm tower divides the centre of Sterzing into two halves: everything to the south of the tower is the new town, while everything to its north (including the Schwarzer Adler) belongs to the old town. When you’re strolling through the town, lift your eyes from time to time to admire the artistic signs of the shops in the new town. Along with the colourful façades of the houses, they’re the characterising features of the town – and are truly charming.

The most beautiful town hall throughout Tyrol

Sterzing town hall, with its historic council chamber, was built in the mid-15th century and is still considered the most beautiful in Tyrol today. Its inner courtyard is home to a replica of a Roman altar stone that was erected by the Romans over 1,800 years ago as a shrine to the Roman god Mithras. If you’ve got romance on your mind, we have an idea for you: Sterzing and its town hall are a gorgeous place for a wedding. If you’re thinking about saying “I do”, the medieval town is an extraordinary location.