The Iceman

Our next stop was in Bolzano.  With 100,000 residents this is the capital of South Tyrol and a popular entry to the Italian Alps.  Very picturesque town with a river running alongside and towering mountains in the background. The town was very lively when we were there as it was their annual bike festival and all the streets were closed to traffic.  Lovely to stroll the narrow streets munching on a treat from the local bakery.

Our main reason for the visit was to meet the towns most famous resident. Otzi, most commonly referred to as the iceman is a preserved corpse dating back 5300 years. Otzi was discovered in the Italian Alps in September of 1991 and was first thought to be the remains of an unfortunate hiker.  When tests revealed his true age the scientific world was thrilled. He was discovered with clothing and many relics that give a glimpse into that period of history.  The archeology museum in Bolzano is specially designed for Otzi and the relics maintaining each in special containers that mimic the temperature and humidity that kept them intact for thousands of years.  We found this whole museum to be absolutely fascinating.

Home of the Iceman

Beautiful backdrop to the narrow windy streets

Bolzano Cathedral 

Every turn a unique sight