The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology is on Via Museo in central Bolzano, in a former bank building from 1912 that was remodeled for the museum in 1998. Its main attraction is Ötzi, the iceman who lived some 5,300 years ago and was found in the Alps in 1991. The exhibits run over several floors, from the discovery story to the clothing and tools found with him and the science used to study him. Allow at least an hour.
A former bank on Via Museo
The museum occupies a former bank building from 1912 on Via Museo, in the centre of Bolzano. It was remodeled for the museum in 1998.
The street marks the western entrance to the arcades of Bolzano and the start of the pedestrian zone, so you can walk there from the old town. The arcades in Bolzano are about 300 metres long.
How Ötzi was found
Two German hikers found the body in 1991, sticking out of melting ice high in the Ötztal Alps. He was buried to his torso on the east ridge of the Fineilspitze, at about 3,210 metres, on the border between Austria and Italy.
Researchers still debate whether he came from an Alpine valley or was crossing the mountains, since his equipment and one of his last meals appear to come from lower valleys nearer Verona.
More than 5.5 million people have seen him since the museum opened in 1998.
Inside the museum
The visit moves from the discovery to the man himself. The ground floor tells the story of how he was found. On the first floor, Ötzi rests in a chilled chamber, with his clothing and everyday objects around him.
The upper floors focus on science, with reconstructions by the Kennis brothers and analyses that have revealed his blood type and what he ate before he died. The display is clear and factual, without dramatic staging.
Audio guides and photos
The audio guide costs extra for adults. A children's version is available through goat stickers placed around the museum, and it plays only through your own phone.
Photography is restricted inside the museum. Ötzi himself is being preserved for research, so photos of him are not allowed.
Visiting with a group
School groups come to the museum and can fill the stairs and walkways. If you want a quieter visit, check the schedule with the museum before you go.
The entrance and restrooms are wheelchair accessible, and so is the parking lot.
Nearby
You can follow a trail in the mountains to the original discovery site. ArcheoParc Schnals is also nearby.
The Messner Mountain Museum Firmian, in the Sigmundskron castle, is one of the other museums in the region.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, the museum charges admission. Buying tickets in advance is recommended.
How long do you need?
Plan at least an hour. A visit usually takes one to two hours, depending on how much you read and whether you use the audio guide.
Can you take photos inside?
Photography is restricted inside the museum, and you cannot photograph Ötzi himself.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
The entrance and restrooms are wheelchair accessible, and the parking lot is too.
Is there parking nearby?
Parking is paid, both in the lot and on the street.
