Brixen, South Tyrol: Art is Everywhere
Once upon a time, the Prince-Bishops transformed Brixen into a spiritual and artistic hub, and even today, Brixen continues to exude a strong sense of artistry. Monuments, museums, fountains, and galleries, as well as hotels and industrial buildings, all bear witness to the deep appreciation of the people of Brixen for ancient, new, and modern art.
It’s not just April 15, the World Art Day, which was established in 2017 to commemorate Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday, that draws special attention in Brixen and its surroundings. Throughout the year, the former bishop’s city celebrates art from all eras and in all its diverse forms and styles. Whether ancient, old, new, modern, or contemporary, the city’s special relationship with art throughout the centuries is palpable to both residents and visitors alike. Brixen was founded in 901 by the Prince-Bishops and has been a centre of the arts ever since, characterized by its unique architecture and extensive, exceptional art collections.
Art, culture, and curiosities in museums and galleries
When one thinks of a museum in Brixen, the mind’s eye immediately conjures up the awe-inspiring Hofburg, the former magnificent seat of the Prince-Bishops, a testament to the rich history and grandeur of the region. Upon stepping into the courtyard, where the famous light and music shows take place during the Advent season, one can immediately sense the artistic and cultural affinity of the rulers of yesteryear, who were deeply committed to fostering spiritual and secular well-being. Even emperors graced this place with their presence, as they journeyed to Rome to meet the Pope, leaving a lasting impression on the city. This place is a treasure trove of art, spanning from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque periods to the 20th century, all housed alongside the impressive Cathedral Treasury and the globally unique Nativity Scene Collection. Beyond the historical treasures, the Hofburg hosts a vibrant tapestry of exhibitions each year, showcasing a diverse range of themes and topics. Until June 29, 2025, an anthology of works by the South Tyrolean artist Berty Skuber will be on display, showcasing her unique and captivating style.
In 1602, the town pharmacy, a treasure of Brixen, opened its doors, and since 1787, it has been in the capable hands of the Peer family of pharmacists. Despite numerous renovations to the historic building and the evolution of the pharmacy industry, a treasure trove of history has been preserved, now housing one of the most intriguing and fascinating museums, the Pharmacy Museum. Here, you’ll embark on a journey through four centuries of pharmaceutical history, where you’ll witness the evolution of medicine and its impact on society. Beyond measuring instruments, laboratory equipment, and packaging from bygone eras, the cabinet of curiosities captivates visitors with its intriguing collection of so-called lure objects, such as a stuffed crocodile or a fragment of mummy, evoking a sense of wonder and awe. The collection of historical medicinal drugs from minerals, animals, and plants, such as the thickened ox gall or the sugared woodlice, is truly awe-inspiring. A few years ago, the entrance area of the Pharmacy Museum, nestled right beside the actual pharmacy, was transformed into a captivating and artistic masterpiece. In perfect harmony with the theme, the South Tyrolean artist Manfred Alois Mayr crafted the entrance portal in the form of a pill blister, while a bronze-crafted Aesculapian snake slithered onto the building’s facade. Inside, you’ll be greeted by three colossal bronze pills, standing tall and proud.
Old and new in harmony in the name of art – this is how the time-honoured Neustift monastery presents itself to visitors from near and far. Located just outside Brixen, surrounded by vineyards that produce award-winning white wines, the entire monastery complex impresses with its miniature version of the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome and the miracle fountain in the first courtyard. The monastery was founded in 1142 and has been inhabited and administered by the Augustinian canons ever since. A centre of art through the ‘tradition of monastic art patronage’: late Gothic winged altars from Michael Pacher’s time through to Baroque frescoes are preserved here. A new addition is the recently opened Kunst Galerie Kloster Neustift, a space for contemporary artists from the European region of Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino, such as Peter Burchia, Markus Gasser, Walter Dalfovo, Martina Tscherni, Helmut Nindl and Sylvia Barbolini.
Experience contemporary art within ancient walls at the oversized Franzensfeste fortress. Built at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, but never involved in hostilities, the Franzensfeste has not only been open to the public for particularly interesting and exciting guided tours for several years, but is also an ideal location for several permanent exhibitions, such as ‘Bunker’, ‘The Cathedral in the Desert’ and ‘Permanent Art Installations’, as well as for new contemporary art exhibitions every year, thanks to its generous space.
In the StadtGalerie Brixen, a renovated gem of contemporary art, you’ll find a world of artistic expression. The Südtiroler Künstlerbund, the South Tyrolean Artists’ Association, was entrusted with the task of filling the gallery with captivating content and championing the ‘art of the present’ of local artists. Each year, a committee selects a curator who takes on the exciting challenge of organizing 4 to 5 exhibitions. The inaugural exhibition, curated by this year’s curator Marco Pietracupa, was a captivating journey through the works of Roger Weiss and Valentina De’Mathà, titled ‘Tutti i presenti che non sono mai esistiti’.
Museums and exhibitions are places you visit—but in Brixen, there’s also a place where art lovers go shopping. Since 1895, the Kompatscher family name has been synonymous with art and culture in the town. Back then, Jakob Kompatscher started out as a bookbinder in Brixen. Today, his great-grandson Jakob Kompatscher runs the Kompatscher Gallery, a space where visitors can admire and purchase paintings, sculptures, and nativity figurines created by local, national, and international artists. And the next generation is already in the business: Johannes is dedicated to the production of picture frames, ensuring that the family’s artistic legacy continues.
Art in the city, on the mountain, on squares, houses and silo towers
Brixen and its surroundings are best explored with open eyes. There’s more to discover than just historic monuments, churches, and cloisters. Art is woven into the very fabric of the city, with works by artists scattered throughout. They are there to inspire, and at times, to provoke thought.
Here, where the Eisack and Rienz rivers converge, water plays a significant role in shaping the city and its surroundings, with numerous fountains adding to its charm. The renowned Water Light Festival, which has gained recognition beyond South Tyrol, has also left its mark on Brixen. The next edition is set to take place from 29 April to 17 May 2026. Traces of past festivals can still be seen around the city: the fountain in Hartmannplatz, created by artists Rüdiger Witcher and Stefano Peluso, dates back to the 2018 edition, while Massimo Uberti’s “Battistero d’oro” from 2022 continues to adorn the fountain in front of the Hotel Elephant.
The ‘Fountain of Life’ on Cathedral Square was created by artist Martin Rainer and depicts the cycle of life and the different phases of human life as a spiral.
Sacred art and frescoes from various eras can be admired in the majestic Cathedral of Brixen. Particularly fascinating is the cloister right next to the cathedral—one of South Tyrol’s most significant artistic landmarks. Its frescoes, dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, tell vivid stories through their intricate details. Among the most curious depictions is that of the biblical war elephant, a rare and captivating sight in religious art.
Globes, spheres and curves are the favoured shapes of artist Lukas Mayr’s sculptures. Three oversized spheres form his work of art, which stands in the middle of the roundabout at the southern entrance to Brixen. ‘Source of Life’, the title of the sculpture, was actually intended as a fountain and has already been exhibited as such elsewhere.
That even noise barriers can be transformed into works of art is brilliantly demonstrated by the 19 oversized fly agaric mushrooms created by artist Matteo Picelli (known as Egeon) at Brixen’s new Mobility Centre. But why fly agaric mushrooms? As the expert jury explained: “The fly agaric symbolises strong connections. It forms a symbiotic relationship with other plants, exchanging essential nutrients, water, and chemical signals.” A fitting metaphor for a hub designed to bring people together.
What do Dante Alighieri, Walther von der Vogelweide and the two Mafia judges Falcone and Borsellino have in common? The internationally renowned mural artist Igor Scalisi Palminteri has decorated two schools in Brixen with oversized figures. The two most important poets Dante Alighieri and Walther von der Vogelweide adorn the façade of the Liceo Alighieri school and thus represent the interplay of two cultures in South Tyrol, while the two judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, who were killed by the Mafia, give their names to the ITE Falcone e Borsellino school.
The municipality of Brixen has a deep appreciation for the arts and has earned a reputation as a true patron of artists. In collaboration with the South Tyrolean Artists’ Association, the municipality has acquired over 30 artworks by local artists over the past two years. These pieces have been thoughtfully placed throughout the recently fully restored town hall, transforming the building into a vibrant showcase of regional creativity.
The two silo towers of barth, an internationally renowned company building interior design, are a striking landmark visible from afar. Standing over 20 metres tall, these towers have been transformed into works of art—first by Esther Stocker in 2006, and later by Eva Schlegel in 2023. Both artists also have pieces on display in the company’s private art gallery at the barth headquarters. Incidentally, in South Tyrol, the name Barth immediately brings to mind the numerous works of renowned architect Othmar Barth, a key figure in regional culture and architecture. Today, the family business is in its fifth generation, led by Ivo Barth and his son Max.
Art on Brixen’s local mountain Plose also inspires reflection and imitation. The ‘Take Me Home’ project was realised in collaboration with the South Tyrolean Artists’ Association. The artists Ali Paloma and Mirijam Heiler have designed four rubbish bins that ‘remind us that we have to take our rubbish home with us.’
Art in your holiday retreat
Brixen’s oldest district, Stufels, located just beyond the bridge Adler Brücke, is known as the city’s artistic quarter. And right here stands the Arthotel Lasserhaus, a 15th-century noble residence, now a listed heritage building, distinguished by its strikingly decorated façade. Following an extensive restoration and redesign by Studio Vudafieri Saverino Partners from Milan, this historic building now offers guests ten unique rooms and suites, each blending history with contemporary comfort. Scattered throughout the Arthotel, visitors will find an inspiring collection of artworks—ranging from contemporary pieces by five renowned artists (Ingrid Hora, Peter Kogler, Petra Polli, Esther Stocker, and Alexander Wierer) to baroque masterpieces from the esteemed Faller Art Collection.
A striking new architectural icon has emerged in the heart of Brixen’s old town—the Boutique Hotel Badhaus. Designed by Bergmeisterwolf Architektur, the hotel is housed within two distinctive towers, offering 21 elegantly designed rooms, each featuring bathrooms crafted from water-green quartzite and a refined interior. A passageway seamlessly connects the contemporary structure with the surrounding historic buildings, creating a dialogue between past and present. In collaboration with the South Tyrolean Artists’ Association, artist Michael Fliri has reinterpreted the site’s heritage—the original Badhaus, which first opened in 1374—through a mesmerising installation. His “liquid starry sky”, composed of hundreds of handcrafted ceramic tiles reflecting light, evokes the essence of water and history. Adding to the artistic experience, guests are welcomed at the entrance by a suspended aluminium sculpture of a bathrobe, an elegant nod to the building’s centuries-old bathing tradition.
Terraces, panoramic views, striking architecture, and a giant. The steep hillside beneath St. Andrä, at the foot of the Plose above Brixen, has profoundly shaped the distinctive design of the Santre Dolomythic Home (Architect Marco Micheli). Partially embedded into the rock, every sunlit, terraced floor offers breathtaking panoramic vistas across the entire Eisack Valley. A true standout feature is the “Giant of Santre,” a 15-metre-high figure created by the artist Golif, majestically positioned against the rock face behind the glass lift.
The new Boutique Hotel Pachers in Neustift embraces the harmony of indulgence and art. Culinary delights follow the principles of “slow food,” blending Alpine and Mediterranean influences. Artistically, guests can admire two exhibition pieces during the hotel’s first year after opening: Anima by Rosmarie Weinlich and Traubenreich by Katharina Berndt. Each artwork tells its own story—Anima, a light installation, captures the hotel’s spirit, while Traubenreich, a reflective piece, mirrors the surrounding vineyards, bringing their essence into the heart of the hotel.
Art + Craft = Artisan mastery in Brixen
Is art a craft, or is craft an art? Both—because creating something special, something truly unique, requires not only skilled craftsmanship but also artistic inspiration.
Wolfram Ladurner makes stunning handmade vases from glass. These unique pieces are for sale in his family business Janek 1912 Glas Art.
Alexander Patzleiner, Xander, is a master of quill embroidery stitching, a time-honoured craft that weaves together art and tradition. From belts to traditional shoes to cell phone cases, every embroidered leather piece is a masterpiece, a work of art that tells a story.
Markus Damini, a creative spirit, calls Stufels, the artists’ quarter, his home and studio. His artisanal creations are primarily crafted from leather, which he meticulously shapes and combines with other materials to breathe life into his artistic masterpieces.
WiaNui, which translates to ‘like new’, is fully dedicated to the art of upcycling. In the store, you’ll find a treasure trove of products that have been given a second lease on life, breathing new life into old items. The new location at the Adlerbrücke will now be a showcase for the works of exceptional artists, creating a vibrant and inspiring space for artistic expression.
By the way: On 24 May 2025, the SelberGMOCHT market will take place in Brixen on the cathedral square. Craftspeople and artists will be exhibiting their products (jewellery, felt slippers, accessories and much more). A real treasure trove of original and unique gift ideas.
Information on: www.brixen.org
Art Style | Art & Culture International Magazine 