Horse racing and relaxation in Merano: Discover the charm of Maia Alta, also called Untermais
Image gallery: Maia Bassa
Visitors arriving to Merano from Sinigo are often greeted by a surprising sight: Thoroughbred racehorses crossing the road at the town entrance on their way from the stables to the Merano-Maia Racecourse. This expansive facility is one of Europe's most renowned equestrian centres.
It hosts the annual Merano South Tyrol Grand Prix in September and the Haflinger Gallop Races on Easter Monday. While elegant hats are de rigueur during the Grand Prix, the racecourse transforms into a lively folk festival at Easter. The racecourse now also serves as a concert arena. Stars like Alvaro Soler and Mark Forster have already thrilled audiences at the Maia Music Festival.
Maia Bassa, formerly an independent municipality, stretches from Winkelberg to the confluence of the Adige and the Passirio rivers. A new river park, a 12,000 sqm local recreation area, opened in the summer of 2024 at this confluence. In contrast to the historic centre, Maia Bassa presents a tranquil atmosphere with schools, sports facilities like the Meranarena with a climbing wall and swimming pool, campsites, and its own railway station. The name Maia Bassa likely derives from the Roman customs station "Castrum Maiense", named after the Roman goddess of spring, Maia.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the German poet Christian Morgenstern (1871-1914) lived in Untermais for several years, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He died there on March 31, 1914, in the Villa Helioburg, while still working on the poetry collection "Wir fanden einen Pfad" (We Found a Path). Among his best-known works are the "Galgenlieder" (Gallows Songs).
