Meran-Merano Meran-Merano Pescado Rabioso Category="Towns in South Tyrol"

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Key Facts
Municipality:Meran (German)
Merano (Italian)
District: Burggrafenamt-Burgraviato
Province:Bozen-Bolzano (South Tyrol)
Region:Trentino-South Tyrol
Country:Italy
Population (2002),
Language groups according to
Census of 2001		about 33.400
51.5% German
48.0% Italian
0.5% Ladin
Coordinates: 46°40′ N 11°09′ E
Sea level:320 m
Area:26.3 km²
Neighbourhoods:Gratsch-Quarazze, Obermais-Maia Alta, Untermais-Maia Bassa, Meran-Merano, Sinich-Sinigo,
Neighbouring communities:Algund-Lagundo, Burgstall-Postal, Hafling-Avelengo, Lana, Marling-Marlengo, Schenna-Scena, Tirol-Tirolo, Tscherms-Cermes, Vöran-Vereno
City partnerships:Salzburg
Postal Code:39012
Area Code:0473
ISTAT-Number:021051
Tax code:00394920219
Politics
Mayor (2005):Günther Januth

Meran (German) / Merano (Italian) is probably best known as a spa in Trentino-South Tyrol, Italy. It is the second biggest city of the province (after Bozen-Bolzano) and located inside a Basin, surrounded by mountains (1500-3335 m), at the entrance to the Passeiertal-Val Passiria, the Vinschgau-Val Venosta and the Ultental valleys.

In the past, this idyllic town has been a popular place of residence for many famous scientists and doctors, who appreciated the mild, mediterranean Climate and the pure, healthy air.

Among the town's landmarks are the Museum of Tourism, which was opened in the spring of 2003 and shows the historical development of tourism in the South Tyrol, and the Botanic garden. Both sites are located in the Chateaux Trauttmansdorff.

History

Meran-Merano, capital of the county of the Tyrol from 1418 to 1848, was elevated to the status of a city during the 13th century. When Friedrich IV moved the court to Innsbruck in 1420, Meran-Merano quickly lost its predominant position and its importance as an economic hub. Only the Tyrolean struggle for freedom of 1809 drew a lot of attention again: On the Küchelberg above Meran-Merano the Tyroleans eked out a victory against the French and the Bavarians. After World War I, Meran-Merano became part of Italy with the rest of the South Tyrol, but unlike Bozen-Bolzano, the plans of the fascist regime to assimilate the German speaking citizens by setteling a majority of citizens from other parts of the Italian kingdom failed because of skillful negotations of the city administration led by Baron Marcart. Nevertheless, all originally tyrolean geographic names were prohibited and exchanged through Italianised names (even surenames lost their validity until World War II). After 1945, it became one of the most important sites of tourism in the region.

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In 1981, the World Chess Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Victor Korchnoi was held in Merano. A chess opening, the Meran Variation, was named after the town. The first act of the musical Chess is about a world chess championship match in Merano.

See also

External links

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