Brixen-Bressanone

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(Redirected from Bressanone)

Gemeinde Brixen Comune di Bressanone
Image:CoA civ ITA bressanone.png
Province	South Tyrol
Region	Trentino-South Tyrol
Area	84,86 km²
Altitude	560 m
Location	Template:Coor dm
Population	19,163
Population density	215 /km²
Patron saints	St. Ingenuino and St. Albuino (feast: February 2)
Mayor	Albert Pürgstaller
Official Site	www.brixen.it

Brixen (German) or Bressanone (Italian) is a town in the autonomous province of South Tyrol (part of the autonomous region Trentino-South Tyrol) in northern Italy.

The third city of South-Tyrol, Brixen it is an old (founded 901) town, the artistical and cultural capital of the Valley of Eisack-Isarco river. It is located at the confluence of the Eisack (Isarco) and Rienz-Rienza rivers, 40 km north to Bozen/Bolzano and 45 km south to the Brenner Pass, on the Italy-Austria border. It is surrounded at east by Plose and Monte Telegrafo/Plosegipfel (2504 m), at west by Cima Cane/Hundkopf and Monte Pascolo/Königsangerspitze (2439 m).

As throughout the region, the majority of the population speaks German. The remaining of the inhabitants is Italian and Ladin speaking, with percentages of 27% and 1%, respectively.

Brixen is especially well known as a major skiing resort. Other activities include hydroelectric power, wool, orchards and vineyards.

Brixen-Bressanone should not be confused with Brixen im Thale of Austrian Tyrol.

1 History
2 Main sights
3 Transportation
4 External links

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History

Template:Main The area of Brixen was settled since the Middle Stone Age (8th millennium BC). Other settlements from the late Stone Age have been found, until, in 15 BC, the area was conquered by the Romans, who had their main settlement in the nearby Sabiona (Säben). They held it until around 590 AD, when it was occupied by Bavarians.

The first mention of Brixen dates to 901 AD in a document issued by the King of Germany Louis III the Child: in it, a territory called Maso Prihsna is assigned to the bishop of Sabiona, Zacharia. As time passed, "Prihsna" turned into the current ame of Brixen. The bishops moved here from Sabiona in 992, after the Cathedral had been finished.

In 1039 the bishop of Brixen, Pappo, was elevated to Pope by emperor Henry III. However, his reign lasted only for 23 days.

in the 11th century Brixen became the seat of an ecclesiastical principate which, in the following years, struggled for existence against the neighbourinf county of Tyrol.

In 1115 a first line of walls encircling Brixen was completed.

The bishopric was secularized in 1803, annexed to the Austrian Empire.

After the end of the First World War Brixen, together with the whole South Tyrol, was annexed to Italy.

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Main sights

Image:Brixen2005 035.jpg

The Cathedral (rebuilt 1745-1754 along Baroque lines)
The Bishop's Palace (13th century)
The round church of San Michele (12th-15th centuries)

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Transportation

Brixen is provided by an efficient railway station on the Brennero Line leading from Verona to Tyrol. There are two gates for the Brennero Highway, following the same path.

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