Europa-Novacella - Bolzano - Bolzano and surroundings

Exploring Bolzano’s Europa-Novacella district: a blend of history, vineyards, and modern town life

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View on Bolzano towards Don Bosco and Europa-Novacella (Europa-Neustift), two of today’s five districts of the South Tyrolean provincial capital.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The name goes back to the estate belonging to the Augustinian Abbey of Novacella near Bressanone, which stands in the middle of the district.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Before the settlement was founded in the 1930s, the entire area was dominated by viticulture, today there is still a remnant of it.
Foto: AT, © Peer
In 1956, the Regina Pacis Church (Queen of Peace) was inaugurated and is still an important reference point for the district.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The Cristallo Theatre next to it was opened two years earlier and represents the cultural centre: It houses also one of the civic centres of the town.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Viale Europa connects the district with Don Bosco and gives its name to the one half of the district: Europa (from Europa-Novacella).
Foto: MS, © Peer
The church of the Maria Heim Parish in Viale Europa was consecrated by Bishop Heinrich Forer in 1969: many of the condominiums standing today were built in those years.
Foto: AT, © Peer
In the other direction, Europa-Novacella reaches until the Via Roma, where the open-air swimming pool and the Druso Stadium are located.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The Lido of Bolzano, a popular place in summer, consists of several pools, a wide sunbathing-lawn, a snack bar and a beach volleyball court.
Foto: © AdobeStock
Spring on the promenade along the banks of the Isarco, here in Europa-Novacella, which takes you all the way to the town centre by bike or on foot.
Foto: MS, © Peer
Further parks can be found in Via Genua, the border of the Europa-Novacella quarter, called Europa-Neustift in German.
Foto: AT, © Peer

Europa-Novacella owes its name to the Novacella Abbey near Bressanone, which once owned an estate here. As early as the 13th century, the Augustinian Canons of Novacella were mentioned in Bolzano. With the construction of the Maria Heim estate, an administrator of the abbey eventually settled permanently in Bolzano. The surrounding vineyards still characterise the townscape today.

Historically, it's the newest district of Bolzano, yet demographically, it boasts the oldest population. Viewed from above or on a map, Europa-Novacella occupies a central position in Bolzano. Where a marshy area once existed, used for cultivating grapes, now lies a vibrant neighbourhood. Europa-Novacella (Europa-Neustift) is situated between the Viale Druso road and the Isarco River.

It stretches from the Viale Europa road in the east to Via Roma road in the west. Between them lie two key arterial roads, leading over the Ponte Roma and the Ponte Palermo bridges, connecting to other parts of the town. On the edge of Europa-Novacella, towards the old town, you'll find the swimming pool and the Drusus Stadium, home to FC Südtirol. A popular promenade for joggers and walkers runs alongside the Isarco River. Within the district are the Regina Pacis Church and the Cristallo Theatre, a popular event location and home to the citizen's advice bureau.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, the area bustles with activity as the farmers' market takes place at Marcella Casagrande Square and the weekly market sets up on the Via Rovigo road. The most famous square, the Piazza Matteotti, was once called Piazza Littorio. After Italy's liberation from fascism, it was dedicated to the murdered anti-fascist Giacomo Matteotti (1885-1924).

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