South Tyrol (German Südtirol, Italian Alto Adige (official), Sudtirolo (unofficial)) is an autonomous province of Italy.
In the aftermath of World War I a relevant part of Austrian Tyrol was occupied by Italy, and subsequently annexed. The areas around Trent formed Italian-speaking Trentino. In the north the valleys around Bolzano/Bozen were inhabited by ethnic Germans and Ladins (Today the third official language of South Tyrol, alongside German and Italian).
After the rise of Fascism in 1922 a policy of de-Germanization was carried on ruthlessly. All places, up to the tiniest hamlet, were given Italian names, and even some family names were translated.
With the Treaty of Gruber-De Gasperi the winner of WWII decided to give South Tyrol to Italy but at the same time the german speaking people where granted special rights.
Today South Tyrol (i.e. the Province of Bozen-Südtirol or Bolzano-Alto Adige) enjoys a high degree of autonomy, and relations with North and East Tyrol - the two portions of the old state retained by Austria - are lively, especially since Austria joined the European Union. There is a South Tyrolese People's Party.
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2 Castles 3 Mountains 4 Subdivision 5 External links |
Freedom fighters:
Famous names
Others:
Castles
Mountains
Subdivision
South Tyrol is divided into several administrative regions/Villages (Gemeinden/Comuni):
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