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Sterzing (; it, Vipiteno ) is a
comune The (; plural: ) is a local administrative division of Italy, roughly equivalent to a township or municipality. It is the third-level administrative division of Italy, after regions ('' regioni'') and provinces ('' province''). The can ...
in South Tyrol in northern
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
. It is the main town of the southern Wipptal, and the
Eisack The Eisack (german: Eisack, ; it, Isarco ; Latin: ''Isarus'' or ''Isarcus'') is a river in Northern Italy, the second largest river in South Tyrol. Its source is near the Brenner Pass, at an altitude of about 1990 m above sea level. The river draw ...
River flows through the medieval town.


History


Origin

The town traces its roots to 14 B.C., when Nero Claudius Drusus founded a military camp called "Vipitenum" along the road between what are now Italy and Germany. Ancient ruins found nearby include a sepulchral monument dedicated to Postumia Vittorina, a milestone of the Imperator
Septimius Severus Lucius Septimius Severus (; 11 April 145 – 4 February 211) was Roman emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna (present-day Al-Khums, Libya) in the Roman province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succ ...
period and a stone altar dedicated to Lord Mithras. The first mention of a town called ''Wibitina'' dates back to the years between 985 and 990. That name, which is still memorized in Wipptal, is traced back to the nearby Celto-Roman settlement Vibidina. In 1182, the German name ''Sterçengum'' appears in a document of the Sonnenburg abbey. In 1280, Duke Meinhard of Carinthia, promoted the town to the rank of city. As the region's proximity to the Brenner Pass made it a frequent trade route, the
Fugger The House of Fugger () is a German upper bourgeoisie, bourgeois family that was historically a prominent group of European bankers, members of the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century mercantile patrician (post-Roman Europe), patriciate of Augsburg, ...
of
Augsburg Augsburg (; bar , Augschburg , links=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swabian_German , label=Swabian German, , ) is a city in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany, around west of Bavarian capital Munich. It is a university town and regional seat of the '' ...
opened a branch to sort the products of the nearby silver mines in Ridnaun Valley and Pfleres Valley. Sterzing knew its magnificence in the 15th and 16th centuries after the 1443 fire which destroyed part of the town. New embattled houses were built, some late gothic style, in Neustadt (New Town) as: Town and Regional Trial House (1450), Hotel "Goldenes Kreuz" (1446), Fugger's Branch (1553), Rafenstein House (former Köchl, 1472), the Town Hall (1473), Geizkofler House (1600) and the Mining District House (1500) all still in use. The town is mentioned in several sources from the 16th to 19th centuries as ''Störzingen''. In the course of the Italianization of South Tyrol, the modern Italian name of the town ''Vipiteno'' - created from the old Roman settlement of ''Vipitenum'' was made official. Throughout the late 1940s and early 1950s, a number of wanted Nazis stayed in Sterzing at the Hotel Goldenes Kreuz which still exists today. At different times, people like Erich Priebke, Adolf Eichmann, and Josef Mengele were in transit here as they waited for forged passports for their journey out of Europe and by ship to South America.


Coat of arms

King Henry I, Count of Tyrol, granted a seal, similar to the present, depicting a crippled pilgrim with a stick and the rosary above the Tyrolean eagle, this appeared as a coat of arms August 30, 1328. In 1524, the pilgrim is shown as a monk above the Tyrolean eagle.


Main sights


Religious architecture


Parish of "Our Lady of Marsh"

The Parish is the biggest church between Verona and Munich and was built from 1417 to 1451. The gothic altar, woodwork by Hans Multscher of Ulm, is high and was completed in 1458. The church was later enlarged from 1497 to 1525 by Hans Lutz. In 1753, the church was then modified in baroque style, with paintings by Adam Mölk, and the gothic altar removed; presently the altar is on display at the Multscher Museum.


Holy Spirit Church

The Holy Spirit Church is the oldest gothic church in town. Built in 1399, in the same main building of the old Hospital, is located in the Town Square; the nave is painted in fresco by Giovanni of Bruneck (1402).


Saint Elisabeth Chapel

Saint Elisabeth Chapel is part of the Deutschhaus and was built in Baroque in 1729–33 by Giuseppe Delai. It has an octagonal plan with a rectangular sector concerning the altar and the choir. The dome frescos represent the patron saint and the coat-of-arms of the Teutonic Order were painted by Matthäus Günther.


Kapuzinerkirche

The church was built in 1636 and was consecrated the following year to Saint Mary Magdalene; it has a rectangular apse and a lateral chapel dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. The image in the niche on the façade represent the patron saint and is a work of the 17th century. The altarpieces presumably were painted by Josef Renzler in 1800 circa and represent Saint Mary Magdalene with Saint Francis and Saint Anthony; on the lateral altars are depicted Saint Felix and Saint Anthony of Padua.


Saint Margaret Church

The present church was built on the initiative of Bishop Paulinus Mayr in early Tyrolean baroque on a project of Peter Delai in 1678. The old church, mentioned for the first time in 1337, was restored and enlarged between 1459 and 1463 in gothic. In 1678, it was completely demolished, rebuilt, and consecrated in 1681. The bell tower is detached from the church and it comes from the previous church, in 1624, the Romanic tower was demolished and built the present. The façade was inspired by to renaissance with the characteristic Palladian tripartite windows. In the niches are placed the wooden sculptures of Saint Margaret and Saint Agnes and above the portal is a fresco showing the Last Supper. The imposing interior has one nave, large windows, and a vaulted ceiling with lunettes. The great high altar has six columns and an altarpiece representing the Coronation of Mary painted by Joseph Renzler in 1822, beside are two wood-carving of the Saints Francis Xavier and John of Nepomuk. Above the altar on the right is placed a statue of the Madonna with Child of 17th century bordered by the Rosary formed by fifteen painted discs presumably by Joseph Mildorfer.


Civil architecture


Zwölferturm

The Zwölferturm is a 46 m. high tower erected in 1470, it is the symbol of the city that divides the New Town from Old Town. A fire in 1867 destroyed the original spire, which was replaced with the present embattled roof.


Town Hall

Built in 1468–72 in late gothic style while, the angular "Erker" was added in 1526. In the patio take place a Roman stone altar, dedicated to Lord Mithras and a milestone of the Imperator Septimius Severus; the same period the military road was completed in 200 A.D.


New Town (Neustadt)

It is the main street of the old city centre with buildings erected after the 1417 fire, during a period when the town was prosperous with the trade and the silver mines in the nearby Ridnaun Valley and Pflersch Valley.


Military architecture


Reifenstein Castle

Outside the city is the Reifenstein Castle, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the province.


Notable people from Sterzing


Olden times

* Vigil Raber (1490–1552) restorer and painter, later writer and editor and pianist * Michael Gaismair (1490 Sterzing – 1532), Social revolutionary, Master builder, leader of the
German Peasants' War The German Peasants' War, Great Peasants' War or Great Peasants' Revolt (german: Deutscher Bauernkrieg) was a widespread popular revolt in some German-speaking areas in Central Europe from 1524 to 1525. It failed because of intense oppositio ...
(1524–1525) * Michael Toxites (1514–1581), Doctor, Humanist and Literary man * Kasper Goltwurm (1524, Sterzing – 1559), Lutheran theologian


More modern times

* Johann Baptist Gänsbacher (1778–1844) composer and conductor * Anton Mitterwurzer (1818–76) baritone opera singer * Carl Domanig (1851–1913), Writer * Konrad Fischnaller (1855, Sterzing – 1941), teacher and historian * Andreas Khol (born 1941) an Austrian politician, raised in Sterzing *
Alexander Langer Alexander Langer (22 February 1946 – 3 July 1995) was an Italian journalist, peace activist, politician, translator, and teacher. Biography Born on 22 February 1946 in Sterzing, South Tyrol, a province of Italy inhabited by a German-speaking ...
(1946–1995) Italian journalist, peace activist, politician, translator and teacher. *
Franco Bernabè Franco Bernabè (born 18 September 1948) is an Italian banker and manager, formerly the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Italia, appointed on 3 December 2007. Early life Bernabè was born at Vipiteno/Sterzing (Italy). ...
(born 1948) banker, formerly CEO of Telecom Italia * Johannes Pramsohler (born 1980) a violinist, conductor and record producer


Sport

* Carlo Gartner (1922–2013) alpine skier, competed in the 1948 and 1952 Winter Olympics * Herbert Plank (born 1954) alpine skier, competed in the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics *
Oswald Tötsch Oswald Tötsch (born 17 January 1964) is an Italian former alpine skier who competed in the 1984 Winter Olympics and 1988 Winter Olympics The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games (french: XVes Jeux olympiques ...
(born 1964) former alpine skier, competed in the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics * Josef Polig (born 1968) former Alpine skier, gold medallist in the 1992 Winter Olympics *
Gerhard Plankensteiner Gerhard Plankensteiner (born 8 April 1971 in Sterzing, South Tyrol) is an Italian former luger who competed from 1986 to 2010. Together with Oswald Haselrieder he won the bronze medal in the men's doubles event at the 2 ...
(born 1971) luger, bronze medallist at the 2006 Winter Olympics *
Astrid Plank Astrid Plank (born 30 June 1971) is an Italian former alpine skier who competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics ) , nations = 64 , athletes = 1,801 (1313 men, 488 women) , events = 57 in 6 sports (12 disciplines) , opening = 8 ...
(born 1971) former alpine skier, competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics * Reinhold Rainer (born 1973) luger, competed in four Winter Olympics *
Stéphanie Jiménez Stéphanie Jiménez (born 17 December 1974) is an Andorran mountain runner and skyrunner naturalised Italian. Biography Jiménez was born in Albi, France. She has competed in the Buff Skyrunner World Series since 2006, finishing in the top five i ...
(born 1974) an Andorran mountain runner, lives in Sterzing *
Devis Da Canal Devis Da Canal (born 18 July 1976, Vipiteno, Bolzano-Bozen) is an Italian biathlete. He competed in the men's sprint event at the 2002 Winter Olympics The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games and commonly known ...
(born 1976) biathlete, competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics *
Silvia Weissteiner Silvia Weissteiner (born 13 July 1979 in Sterzing/Vipiteno) is an Italian long-distance runner. Biography She is a two-time national champion in the women's 5000 metres. She represented Italy at the 2008 Summer Olympics, the 2012 Summer Olymp ...
(born 1979) long-distance runner, competed at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics * Katja Haller (born 1981) professional biathlete, competed in three Summer Olympics * Alex Schwazer (born 1984), former race walker * Hans Peter Fischnaller (born 1985), luger * Markus Gander (born 1989), ice hockey player * Sandra Gasparini (born 1990) luger, competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics *
Ivan Deluca Ivan Deluca (born 28 July 1997) is an Italian ice hockey player for HC Bozen–Bolzano and the Italian national team. He represented Italy at the 2019 IIHF World Championship The 2019 IIHF World Championship was hosted from 10 to 26 May 2019 ...
(born 1997), ice hockey player


Society


Linguistic distribution

According to the 2011 census, 73.64% of the population speak German, 25.95% Italian and 0.41% Ladin as first language.


Culture

*Sterzing/Vipiteno is a site to the Orfeo Music Festival, a renowned classical music event.


Economy


Industry

Sterzing is home of the Leitner Group, an international industry, a manufacturer of cable systems, snowgroomer, utility tracked vehicles, systems for urban rail called
minimetrò MiniMetro is a family of cable propelled automated people mover systems built by HTI Group. The vehicles either run on rails or an air cushion and have either a detachable grip (to the cable) or a fixed grip. Leitner has a test track for the v ...
, and wind turbines.


International relations


Twin towns – Sister cities

Sterzing is
twinned Twinning (making a twin of) may refer to: * In biology and agriculture, producing two offspring (i.e., twins) at a time, or having a tendency to do so; * Twin towns and sister cities, towns and cities involved in town twinning * Twinning inst ...
with: *
Kitzbühel Kitzbühel (, also: ; ) is a medieval town situated in the Kitzbühel Alps along the river Kitzbüheler Ache in Tyrol, Austria, about east of the state capital Innsbruck and is the administrative centre of the Kitzbühel district (). Kitzbühel ...
, Tyrol,
Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
, since 1971


Gallery

File:Vipiteno View.JPG, A close sight of the inner town File:Vipiteno Twelve hour Tower.JPG, The town's symbol, the "Zwölferturm", is high and was built in 1472. File:Vipiteno Multscher Museum.JPG, The Multscher Museum: Exposition of ancient maps, documents and the plans for building the Parish altar by Hans Multscher File:Sterzing, die Elisabethkapelle Dm17440 IMG 1013 2019-08-03 11.13.jpg, Saint Elisabeth Chapel File:Vipiteno Parish Church 1.JPG, External sight of the Parish "Our Lady of Marsh" File:Vipiteno Parish Church 2.JPG, The central nave with frescos by Adam Mölk File:Sterzing, beeldhouwwerk op de Neustadt foto1 2012-*08-10 16.33.jpg, Sculpture at the Neustadt File:Pfarrkirche Sterzing76.jpg, Parish church


References

* Guide d'Italia, Trentino Alto Adige, Editrice TCI, 1976 * Grande Dizionario Enciclopedico, Unione Tipografico - Editrice Torinese, 1962


External links

*
Homepage of the municipality

Sterzing Webcam
* Orfeo Music Festiva

{{Authority control Municipalities of South Tyrol