Merano

Città di Merano-Meran
Merano's coat of arms
Province	Bolzano-Bozen
Region	Trentino-South Tyrol
Area	26 km²
Altitude	325 m
Location	46°40′N 11°10′E / 46.667°N 11.167°E / 46.667; 11.167
Population	35,119
Population density	1285 /km²
Patron saint	Saint nicholas (feast: December 6)
Mayor	Günther Januth
Official Site	www.comune.merano.bz.it

[[Image:Meran_1.jpg|thumb|240px|Meran-Merano in the Val Venosta.)

Meran (German) / Merano (Italian) is the second biggest city of the Province of Bozen-Bolzano, in the Trentino-South Tyrol region of Italy. Probably best known for its spa resorts, it is located inside a basin, surrounded by mountains stading up to 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

The meranese valley was inhabited since the 3rd millennium BC, as showed by the presence of mehirs and other findings. The story of the city proper began in 15 BC when the Romans occupied the Adige valley founding a military camp, Castrum Majense. Meran-Merano was elevated to the status of a city during the 13th century. It was capital of the county of the Tyrol from 1418 to 1848.

After the county had been handed over to the Habsburg family in 1363 after the abdication of Margherita Maultasch, in 1420 Friedrich IV moved the court to Innsbruck in 1420. Meran-Merano subsequently lost its predominant position and almost all its importance as an economic hub over the road connecting Italy to Germany. The important mint was also moved to Hall in 1577.

The Tyrolean struggle for freedom of 1809 drew attention again to Meran-Merano. in that year, on the Küchelberg above the city, the Tyroleans eked out a victory against the French and Bavarians troops.

After World War I, Meran-Merano became part of Italy with the rest of the South Tyrol. 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.

File:Area of Meran.jpg

The area of Meran-Merano around 1888.

Languages

According to the 2001 census, 51,50 % of the Meranese population is German speaking, 48,01% Italian speaking, and 0,49% of Ladin language.

Sports

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.

The city's handball team is one of the most important of Italy, winner of the scudetto in 2005. The ice hockey team won two national championship, but it is currently playing in the Second Division (A2 series).