Everything about Brixen totally explained
Brixen (
Italian:
Bressanone;
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 in the province, Brixen is an old (founded
901) town, the artistic and cultural capital of the valley of the
Isarco River. It is located at the confluence of the Isarco and
Rienz rivers, 40 km north of
Bolzano and 45 km south of the
Brenner Pass, on the Italy-
Austrian border. It is surrounded at east by
Plose and
Monte Telegrafo (2,504 m), at west by
Cima Cane and
Monte Pascolo (2,439 m).
The majority of the population speaks
German as first language. The remainder of the inhabitants speak
Italian and
Ladin as first languages, with percentages of 27% and 1%, respectively.
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
Middle Stone Age (
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.
In the
11th century, Brixen became the seat of an 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, annexed to the
Austrian Empire.
After the end of the
First World War Brixen was annexed to 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
Rodengo 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
Castel Forte at Ponte Gardena. In the latter lived the famous adventurer and
minstrel Oswald von Wolkenstein.
Transportation
Brixen is provided with an efficient railway station on the Brenner Line leading from
Verona, Italy to
Tyrol, Austria. There are two gates for the Brenner Highway, following the same path.
Future events
Brixen will host the
2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics.
Fraktionen / incorporated villages:
Albes (Albeins), Caredo (Karneid), Cleran (Klerant), Cornale (Korneid), Elvas, Eores (Afers), La Mara (Mahr), Meluno (Mellaun), Perara (Pairdorf), Pinzago (Pinzagen), S.Andrea (St. Andrä), Scezze (Tschötsch), S.Leonardo (St. Leonhard), Tecelinga (Tötschling), Tiles (Tils), Costa d'Elvas (Kranebitt), Monte Ruzzo (Schrambach), Sarnes (Sarns).
Twin cities
Regensburg, Germany, since 1969.
Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic, since 1992.
Bled, Slovenia, since 2004.Further Information
Get more info on 'Brixen'.
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