Overview
Bolzano felt more focused on shopping than the other Italian cities on this route. One street was lined with luxury brands, and the large shopping complex in the center gave parts of the city a Milan-like atmosphere.
The cathedral and surrounding architecture show the growing influence of the German-speaking Alpine world, but the food and wine culture still felt firmly Italian. That mixture was interesting, although the city itself did not appeal to me as much as Trento.
Getting There
The main roads between Trento, Bolzano and Merano were among the best we used in Italy. The farther north we drove, the greener the country became. German signs and visitors became increasingly visible, and northern Italy started to feel naturally connected to Austria and Switzerland rather than separated from them by a dramatic border.
Verdict
Bolzano's cultural mixture was more memorable than its shopping-heavy center. It was an interesting part of the route, but not one of the places I felt compelled to revisit on its own.