THE WHOLE WORLD IN A GARDEN

The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle: Where art and nature intermingle, are located in a 12-hectare site that forms a natural amphitheatre with more than 80 garden landscapes from around the world. After a seven-year construction period, they opened in June 2001, and have already welcomed more than two million visitors and earned renowned distinctions: In 2005 they were selected as Italy’s Most Beautiful Garden, and just one year later they were voted Europe’s 6 Garden.

Numerous interactive attractions and a diverse events programme inspire both young and old alike, making a visit to the Gardens an experience for all the senses. Eleven artist pavilions interpret the processes of nature playfully and instructively. High above, Matteo Thun’s spectacular viewing platform offers perspectives of Merano and the surrounding mountains, as well as views of exotic Mediterranean garden worlds.

From the floral splendour of thousands of Tulips to the evocative colours of autumn, South Tyrol’s most popular destination always inspires with its musical and culinary events programme: Highlights include a sublime Breakfast at Sissi’s, exotic Cocktail Evenings and the fiery Garden Nights series featuring the finest in world music and special wine-themed tours to the world’s largest and probably oldest grapevine. In the Gardens’ centre stands the Castle, where Austria’s Empress Elisabeth, the beloved “Sissi”, once made her winter residence. Today it houses the Touriseum, South Tyrol’s official Museum of Tourism, entertainingly recounting 200 years of Alpine Tourism history.