The St. Michael Parish Church in Bressanone houses a small but fine museum in its 72 m high White Tower
Image gallery: White Tower Museum
If you look from the surroundings on Bressanone, you will recognise the double towers of the Bressanone Cathedral and the White Tower of the St. Michael Parish Church: These buildings, visible from afar, are the landmarks of the town of Bressanone in the Isarco Valley. The current shape of the White Tower dates back to 1459 and its name is quickly explained: Its light-coloured stones are covered by an even lighter brick tower roof, which appears almost white.
Inside there is a small interesting museum known as "Museum im Weissen Turm" in German and "Museo nella Torre Bianca" in Italian language: It explains the significance of the White Tower as a town and parish tower using various models and also shows miniature bells, the contents of the tower ball and tower clocks and explains the tasks of the tower and fire guards.
The four oriels still visible today were in fact used as rooms for the tower guard, who was active until the 1930s before the start of WWII. And how to reach the museum? As mentioned above, it is located in the tower of the Bressanone Parish Church on the parish square, about 100 m from the Cathedral. A short walk leads from the car park to the tower. The carillon sounds daily at 11 am. In the warm months, a guided tour is offered every Saturday - you may combine a visit with a hike on the Chestnut Trail which leads also past the Sabiona Monastery above the town of Chiusa.
Contact info
- Piazza Parrocchia / Pfarrplatz 3-4 - 39042 - Bressanone / Brixen
- +39 0472 836333 / +39 0472 837034
- pfarramt@pfarrei-brixen.it
Opening times
The museum is open for groups on request also in winter: +39 0472 830505.
More information
The White Tower Museum is accessible every year from Easter to the end of October once a week during a guided tour. Season start 2025 in mid-April.