Termeno sulla Strada del Vino
Termeno sulla Strada del Vino (in German Tramin an der Weinstraße) is a municipality in South Tyrol located south of Bolzano, set...
Updated 17 July 2026
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The story
The story of Termeno sulla Strada del Vino
The wine village on the Wine Road
Termeno sulla Strada del Vino lies in the Bassa Atesina (Unterland), south of Bolzano, along the route of the South Tyrolean Wine Road, one of Italy's oldest and most fascinating wine itineraries. The landscape is dominated by rows of vines climbing the morainic hills, interspersed with farmsteads, historic wine cellars and small hamlets. Termeno holds a strategic position along this route, a reference point for anyone travelling between Bolzano and Ora in search of local cellars. The particularly mild climate, favoured by the shape of the valley and the Mediterranean influence rising from the Adige valley, makes this territory one of the most suited to quality viticulture in the entire Alpine arc, with a winemaking tradition rooted in the medieval era that still today forms the heart of the village's economic and cultural identity.
Gewürztraminer, the grape variety named after Termeno
Termeno is universally recognised as the birthplace of Gewürztraminer, the aromatic pink-skinned grape variety that owes its very name to Tramin, the village's old German name. Its characteristic notes of rose, lychee and spice make it one of the most recognisable aromatic white wines in the world, grown today in many international wine regions but preserved here in its most authentic expression. The hills around the village, with their calcareous-clay soils and excellent sun exposure, offer ideal conditions for ripening this delicate grape. Numerous local wineries, some family-run for generations, offer tastings and guided visits among the vine rows, allowing visitors to get to know the production process up close and to savour the different interpretations that producers give to this wine, a symbol of the territory, often paired with aged cheeses and typical South Tyrolean cuisine.
The historic centre and the church of Kastelaz
The historic centre of Termeno preserves an urban layout typical of South Tyrolean wine villages, with frescoed house façades, carved stone portals and inner courtyards once used for grape processing. Walking through its streets means immersing oneself in an atmosphere from another era, among historic buildings, small squares and the parish church that dominates the settlement. Just outside the village, on the Kastelaz hill, lies Termeno's true artistic gem: the small church of St James, which houses one of the best-preserved cycles of Romanesque frescoes in the entire Alpine arc. The wall paintings, dating from the Romanesque period, depict scenes of extraordinary historical and artistic value, drawing visitors and scholars of medieval art who climb the hill to admire up close the colours and details, still remarkably vivid today.
The Egetmann parade and folk traditions
Termeno is famous throughout South Tyrol for the Egetmann parade (Egetmann-Umzug), one of the oldest and most original Carnival events in the region. The procession, held every two years during Carnival season, winds through the village streets with allegorical floats and a long parade of masked figures with bizarre names and costumes, a legacy of agrarian and propitiatory rites rooted in ancient times. Grotesque characters, caricatured wedding couples and figures tied to rural life animate the parade in a mix of irony, social satire and folklore, drawing visitors from across the region. Recognised as intangible cultural heritage, the event represents one of the most deeply felt identity moments for the local community and testifies to the profound bond between Termeno, its farming traditions and the calendar of the seasons.
Vineyards, Lake Caldaro and the surrounding area
The area around Termeno offers striking landscape views, with vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see across the hills of the Bassa Atesina, interspersed with orchards and small farmsteads. A few kilometres away lies Lake Caldaro, the warmest bathing lake in the Alps, surrounded by vines and by a cycling and walking path that runs all the way around it, an ideal destination for walks, bike rides and relaxing moments along its shores. The network of trails among the hillside vineyards allows visitors to discover wine cellars, votive shrines and scenic viewpoints overlooking the Adige valley, while nearby villages along the Wine Road offer further opportunities for visits, with tastings, farmers' markets and festivals tied to the grape harvest cycle, which here, as elsewhere in the Bassa Atesina, still marks the rhythm of the year.
Not to be missed
- Tasting Gewürztraminer in Termeno's historic wine cellars
- The Romanesque frescoes of the church of St James at Kastelaz
- A walk through the historic centre among frescoed houses and stone portals
- The Egetmann parade, a traditional Carnival procession
- The cycling and walking path around Lake Caldaro
To see
What to see in Termeno sulla Strada del Vino
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Routes in Termeno sulla Strada del Vino
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