The Roman site “Castrum Maiense”, the original town centre and eponym of Merano, was once located at Monte San Zeno
Image gallery: Monte San Zeno
Below Tirolo village lies Monte San Zeno (Zenoberg), a hamlet that belongs to the municipality of Tirolo and looks down on Merano. The hill on which it stands is also called Monte San Zeno and was once known as Mons Sancti Zenonis. In addition, there is St. Zeno's Castle, a castle complex built by the Romans. Here, at the entrance to the Val Passiria, the view opens up on the spa town and the Adige Valley: This sunny location is ideal for growing the red Vernatsch grape.
St. Zeno's Castle stands in a strategic position on a former road to the Giovo Pass and Augsburg. Its chapel was once a place of pilgrimage: The bones of St. Valentine, who lived here, and St. Corbinian, who made a pilgrimage here, were buried in the church. After the mortal remains of St. Valentine were transferred to Passau in 756 AD and those of St. Corbinian to Freising in 768, the sanctuary lost its importance. On the church portal, you can admire the oldest known depiction of the Tyrolean Eagle. It was carved in sandstone in the 14th century after that Tyrol Castle was destroyed in a fire in 1301. Due to this fire, the County of Tyrol was administered from St. Zeno's Castle for three decades. Around 1310 Margaret, Countess of Tyrol, spent her childhood here.
Only a few steps away from St. Zeno's Castle and the historic Passiria Gate runs the famous Gilf Promenade, one of Merano's Promenades. At the Torre delle Polveri or Pulverturm (Powder Tower), once the keep of Ortenstein Castle, this path meets the Tappeiner Promenade, which takes you to the town centre of Merano. Monte San Zeno is also suitable for a stay on a sun terrace a in the vicinity of the spa town, as it can easily be reached in a 10-minute walk.
