35 years of the reopening of the Talfer Bridge

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35 years ago, on September 29, 1990, Bolzano celebrated the ceremonial reopening of the Talfer Bridge. After 13 years of closure, fierce discussions and great commitment from the citizens, the traditional bridge was back in the heart of the city.

The Talfer Bridge was built in 1899-1900 under Mayor Julius Perathoner. It spans the Talfer with five steel arches and a length of 132 meters and has connected the old town and Gries-Quirein ever since. It replaced an older wooden bridge and was opened for the first time on November 5, 1900.

The dilapidated construction was closed to vehicle traffic in 1977 and also to pedestrians in 1985. Two temporary bridges erected by the army helped out, but these remained in place for 13 years. Plans for demolition and a new six-lane bridge triggered fierce resistance. A special committee fought for its preservation, collecting 23,000 signatures, with success.

On September 29, 1990, a few weeks before its 90th birthday, the restored Talfer Bridge was reopened. Thousands of people from Bolzano flocked to the bridge and celebrated the triumph of the will of the people.

The Pfannenstielhof winery presented a special Talferbrücke anniversary wine, which was served on this day. One last bottle is still with us today. On the label - marked by time, but still unmistakable - is the railing of the old bridge. The text on the bottle reads:

‍Committeeto save the Talfer Bridge

Talferbrücke anniversary wine 1900-1990

St. Magdalener

Although the label is now marked by the years, it still tells of the great joy and pride of that day. While the bridge is still reliably doing its job today, there is a piece of celebratory history in our cellar: one last bottle of anniversary wine that reminds us of how Bolzano regained its bridge 35 years ago.

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