It can be found by following a signpost along the road out of Merano heading north into the Alps, that points up the hill. Excavations in the 1970s show a human presence there dating back to Etruscan times, and perhaps earlier.
Linguistically, the 'Fene' in the name most likely relates to Vene-tia, or modern Venice, as the Merano region has been mentioned in Venetian trade manuscripts for its abundance of minerals, especially copper.
Venice, being at one time or another, at war with Genoa, would secure its overland caravan routes by building fortresses guarding the roads, such as the Feneberg castle.