The Twelve Tower and the new town
In the upper Valle Isarco, a few kilometres from the Brenner Pass and the Austrian border, Vipiteno (Sterzing) is one of the most beautiful small towns in South Tyrol, one of the "Borghi più belli d'Italia". In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries it became rich thanks to its position on the road between Germany and Italy and to the silver and lead mines of the nearby valleys, exploited by the powerful Fugger bankers of Augsburg, and the wealthy merchants and mine owners built elegant houses that still give the town its character.
The symbol of Vipiteno is the Torre delle Dodici (Zwölferturm), a tall tower about 46 metres high, built between 1468 and 1472, with a pointed roof and a clock, which separates the old town from the Città Nuova (Neustadt). The main street of the new town, a single long street lined with Gothic houses with oriel windows, battlements, wrought-iron signs, painted façades and arcades, is one of the most picturesque streets in the Alps, with shops, cafés and inns. The Town Hall, with a beautiful oriel and an inner courtyard, houses a Roman altar dedicated to Mithras. The Multscher Museum displays the panels of a famous altarpiece made in 1456-1458 by the German sculptor and painter Hans Multscher for the parish church. Around Vipiteno, the valleys of Ridanna, with the mining museum, Racines and Vizze offer walks, waterfalls and castles, such as Castel Tasso and Castel Pietra.
Tip: climb the Torre delle Dodici for a view of the roofs; in December, the Christmas market fills the new town.
Where it is
More things to see in Trentino-South Tyrol
Where to stay near Vipiteno
Tours and activities nearby
Offers from GetYourGuide. Some links are affiliate links: if you book we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.