blick von schenna richtung zenoberg
blick von schenna richtung zenoberg

Monte San Zeno

The Roman site “Castrum Maiense”, the original town centre and eponym of Merano, was once located at 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 or Schiava grape.

The castle stands in a strategic position on a former road towards 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 slowly lost its importance. On the church portal, the Tyrolean Eagle is recognisable, the oldest known depiction of it. It was carved in sandstone in the 14th century after Tyrol Castle was destroyed in a devastating fire in 1301 and the County of Tyrol was administered from St. Zeno's Castle for three decades. Margaret, Countess of Tyrol, spent her childhood here around 1310.

Only a few steps away from St. Zeno's Castle and the historic Passiria Gate runs the famous Gilf Promenade. At the Torre delle Polveri or Pulverturm (Powder Tower), once the keep of Ortenstein Castle, this promenade then meets the Tappeiner Path, which takes you to the town centre of Merano. So Monte San Zeno is also suitable for a stay on a sun terrace a little outside the spa town, as it can easily be reached on foot in a 10-minute walk.

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