Bolzano - Merano
 

Hi all,
I'm planning a move to this area. Wondering if anyone already there could provide some advice.

Thanks,
Andrew

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

How good is your German?

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

Sehr gut, danke. That's one of the reasons my wife and I are planning to move there, we both speak German, I also speak Italian but my wife doesn't. Also, we love the area.
Do you live there?

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

No but I know it well. It's a magical part of Italy. As both of you speak German - your integration will go a lot more smoothly.

Have you looked at real estate? It can be pricey, even by northern Italian standards.

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

We were planning to rent at the start. Will that be a problem?

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

Renting to start is of course a great idea and I doubt it will be a problem. Once you and your wife get employed - follow the advice of your colleagues on buying.

You may find (may find, not for sure will find) that rentals can be quite small for what you pay, but so what. It's a great part of the world.

Congratulations on the upcoming move.

One other note - some consider Bolzano town to be somewhat industrial and less scenic than other towns around there, though it routinely tops quality-of-live surveys in Italy. You may want to consider outlying areas from Bolzano town and commuting in.

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

I returned to Bolzano last year after 40 years of absence. It was no longer the town I remembered. As the previous poster said "very industrial", dirty, Romanian beggars at every church door, lots of African migrants, overrun by tourists. I also noticed that Italian was more widely used than German. Merano or Bressanone left a better impression.
Property is very expensive.

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

I live just down the road in Trento and am regularly up in the Sued Tirol. Did you have any specific questions/issues in mind?

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

Hello,

We are American "English" speaking expats currently living in Italy. Due to unfortunate circumstances, we have to move from our present location and after much research are thinking of moving to Merano. We don't speak Italian, but my husband speaks very good German and I am at the kindergarten-level of learning Italian.

We'd like to know if Merano has English speaking residents. My husband is an American Master Point bridge player and wants to know if there is a bridge/skat club or players.

Would appreciate a reply. Thank you.

Cheers,
Sar

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

Meran(o) is, like Bozen/Bolzano, probably slightly majority Italian speaking but German is an official language and as soon as you head up the side valleys you find people for whom Italian is very much a foreign language.

I know people who live in Merano but can't give you any info on card clubs I'm afraid. It's a wonderful town though and if you like the active life, I cannot image a better city to live in. So many paths, from the ancient Waalwegs, to the Höhenweg, to the challenging Alpine routes & ferratas. Plus some beautifully maintained long distance cycle paths headnig towards Bolzano, up the Val Venosta and the Val Passiria. Merano can get incredibly hot in summer (about 35-36*C in summer) and snow at city level is pretty rare in winter. I only visit the place as a base for hikes/runs/rides so can't comment too much on life there other than to say that it might come across as being a bit too bourgeois for some tastes but I find cities are generally what you make of them.

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

Hi Megan,

We're Americans stationed in Stuttgart, Germany and are thinking about moving to Merano when my husband retires in about 3 years. We'll be down there over Veteran's Day if you'd like to get together.

Maje Brennan

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

We were just there an did not find it dirty at all. I also didn't see any Romanian beggars, nor did it seem industrial. We live in Germany, so dirt stands out to me.

Maje

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

All depends where you went? A town is not just the core of tourist center. "Dirty" is relative. For me it was so. What has Germany got to do with Bolzano?

Re: Bolzano - Merano
 

We were all over. We have parts of Stuttgart that are industrial as well. But that's part of being in a city. Germany has a reputation of being very clean.

Maje