Things to see in Sterzing

Sterzing (Italian: Vipiteno) is in South Tyrol. The city is just south of the Brenner Pass. This historic Alpine town is the main town of the Wipptal region and advertises itself as the gateway to South Tyrol.

The area was first settled in prehistoric times. Vipitenum is found in Roman records. The German name Sterzing was first mentioned in a document in 1180. The town received city rights under Count Meinhard II in 1280 and during this time, grew in size. The city is the crossing point of trade routes facilitated by the Alpine crossings of the Brenner Pass and this trade was the reason for its economic growth.

In the Middle Ages Sterzing was an important trading town. From the 15th century, silver mining became an important source of income in Ridnaun.

Tower of the Twelve (German: Zwölferturm, Italian: Torre delle Dodici). The Zwölferturm is a 46-m-high tower erected in 1470, it is the symbol of the city that divides the New Town from Old Town. A fire in 1867 destroyed the original spire, which was replaced with the present embattled roof. Our Lady of the Marsh parish church. This is the biggest church between Verona and Munich and was built from 1417 to 1451. The Gothic altar, woodwork by Hans Multscher of Ulm, is 12 metres (39 ft) high and was completed in 1458. The church was later enlarged from 1497 to 1525 by Hans Lutz. In 1753, the church was then modified in baroque style, with paintings by Adam Mölk, and the Gothic altar removed. Saint Magdalena church - also known as Kapuzinerkirche (Capuchin church). The church was built in 1636 and was consecrated the following year to Saint Mary Magdalene; it has a rectangular apse and a lateral chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. Saint Margaret Church (German: Margarethenkirche). The present church was built on the initiative of Bishop Paulinus Mayr in early Tyrolean baroque on a project of Peter Delai in 1678.