Bolzano, Italy. Often called the "Gateway to the Dolomites", Bolzano, Italy, is a medieval city with Gothic and Romanesque churches, and bilingual signage. Points of interest include Victory Monument (built on orders from Benito Mussolini in 1928), Piazza Walther and Via Mostra where in the 18th century the wealthiest built palaces such as Palazzo Campfranco. www.europeantravelcheap.com

A marvelous town located just south of the Austrian border, Bolzano was not always part of Italy. German-Austrian influences are apparent in the architecture and you hear German spoken (or at least the local dialect of it). The Iceman "Ötzi" has been on exhibit since March 1998 at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

It was the first Italian city I spent a night in and frankly I should have spent a few days there. Due to a rather tight schedule and not realizing how long it would take to get from city to city during a week drive thru Europe, I had to move on before totally exploring the area... if I ever get a chance to visit Venice, I’ll go back to Bolzano for a few days stay. It’s an absolutely beautiful location in the Tyrol mountains.

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		Bolzano's surrounding areas are lush mountains (Alps) and the Dolomites which make for beautiful day trips, as well as the famous Lake Garda being only 1hr away.