Messner Mountain Museum

This is the furthest of our suggestions and the only one that is not easily reachable on foot, located in the suburbs of Bolzano. It’s still less than 6 km away from the city centre and well connected by public transportation with a train station 20 minutes away by feet—not a big effort if you are a mountaineer enthusiast! Also a bicycle ride is a possibility, taking around 25 minutes from the city centre. On top of a rocky cliff is standing an ancient castle, Castel Firmiano, built over one thousand years ago.
It was rehabilitated respecting its original architecture, and incorporating modern details made of glass and steel to host one of the six mountain museums directed by the mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner. Born originally in the region of South Tyrol, Reinhold Messner was the first man in the world to climb Mount Everest without the use of the oxygen and to climb all the 14 mountains over 8000 meters.

In the museum are displayed objects of arts collected by Messner all around the world, with Tibetan painting and Buddha statues showing the connection existing between the Himalayan peaks and religion. There are also mountaineering relics tracing back the history of Italian and international mountaineering expeditions. The 10€ entrance fee is definitely worth the money invested and give also the possibility to enjoy the view of the impressive landscape over the valley and the city.