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Comune di Bressanone Gemeinde Brixen
Municipal coat of arms
Country	Italy
Region	Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Province	Bolzano-Bozen (BZ)
Mayor	Albert Pürgstaller
Elevation	560 m (1,837 ft)
Area	84.86 km² (33 sq mi)
Population (as of December 31, 2005)
- Total	19,163
- Density	226/km² (585/sq mi)
Time zone	CET, UTC+1
Coordinates	46°43′N, 11°39′E
Gentilic	Italian: brissinesi German: Brixner
Dialing code	0472
Postal code	39042
Frazioni	see list
Patron	San Albuino San Ingenuino
- Day	February 2
Website: www.bressanone.it

Brixen (Italian: Bressanone; Ladin: Porsenù or Persenon; Latin: Brixino; also known as Pressena (827 AD), Prichsna, Brixina) is a town in the province of Bolzano-Bozen in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.

The third largest city in the province, Brixen is an old (founded 901) town, the artistic and cultural capital of the valley of the Isarco River. It is located at the confluence of the Isarco and Rienz rivers, 40 km north of Bolzano and 45 km south of the Brenner Pass, on the Italy-Austrian border. It is surrounded at east by Plose and Monte Telegrafo (2,504 m), at west by Cima Cane and Monte Pascolo (2,439 m).

The majority of the population speaks German as first language. The remainder of the inhabitants speak Italian and Ladin as first languages, with percentages of 27% and 1%, respectively.

Brixen is especially known as a major skiing resort (the Plose). Other activities include hydroelectric power, wool, orchards and vineyards.

Contents 1 History 2 Main sights 3 Transportation 4 Future events 5 Frazioni 6 Twin cities 7 External links

Main article: Bishopric of Brixen

The area of Brixen was settled since the Middle Stone Age (8th millennium BC). Other settlements from the late Stone Age have been found, until, in 15 BC, the area was conquered by the Romans, who had their main settlement in the nearby Sabiona (Säben). They held it until around 590s, when it was occupied by Bavarians.

The first mention of Brixen dates to 901 in a document issued by the King of Germany Louis III the Child: in it, a territory called Maso Prihsna is assigned to the bishop of Sabiona, Zacharia. As time passed, "Prihsna" turned into the current name of Brixen. The bishops moved here from Sabiona in 992, after the Cathedral had been finished.

In 1039 the Bishop of Brixen, Pappo, was elevated to Pope by emperor Henry III. However, his reign lasted only for 23 days.

In the 11th century, Brixen became the seat of an ecclesiastical principate which, in the following years, struggled for existence against the neighbouring county of Tyrol.

In 1115 a first line of walls encircling Brixen was completed.

The bishopric was secularized in 1803, annexed to the Austrian Empire.

After the end of the First World War Brixen was annexed to Italy.

• The Cathedral (10th century), was rebuilt in the 13th century and again in 1745-1754 along Baroque lines. The ceiling of the nave has a large fresco by Paul Troger portraying the Adoration of the Lamb.
• The Renaissance Bishop's Palace (13th century), one of the main noble residences in the province of Bolzano-Bozen. The Diocesan Museum has several artworks, including a presepe with 5,000 figures created for Bishop Karl Franz Lodron.
• The round Parish church of San Michele (11th century). The Gothic choir and the bell tower are from the 15th century, while the nave is from the 16th. The main artwork is a wooden Cireneus from the 15th century.
• The "Pharmacy Museum" Pharmaziemuseum Brixen, located in a nearly 500 year old townhouse, shows the development and changes of the "City - Pharmacy". Since 1787 the family Peer runs (now in the 7th generation) this Pharmacy, always in the same location. In the museum you can view in carefully restored rooms the development of the pharmaceutical profession over the centuries and the changes in remedies used, starting from the testicles of a beaver or the pieces of an ancient Egyptian mummy and coming to modern plasters and lyophilisates. All the objects and medicines on display were in use in the run of the centuries. The Museum offers also a library for historical research and the archive of the Peer family. In a separate room the history of the family itself is shown by a multimedia application.

Outside the city is the Rodengo Castle, one of the most powerful of its time. It has precious frescoes from the early 13th century. Also important are Reifenstein Castle and the Castel Forte at Ponte Gardena. In the latter lived the famous adventurer and minstrel Oswald von Wolkenstein.

Brixen is provided with an efficient railway station on the Brenner Line leading from Verona, Italy to Tyrol, Austria. There are two gates for the Brenner Highway, following the same path.

Brixen will host the 2009 World Youth Championships in Athletics.

Fraktionen / incorporated villages:

Albes (Albeins), Caredo (Karneid), Cleran (Klerant), Cornale (Korneid), Elvas, Eores (Afers), La Mara (Mahr), Meluno (Mellaun), Perara (Pairdorf), Pinzago (Pinzagen), S.Andrea (St. Andrä), Scezze (Tschötsch), S.Leonardo (St. Leonhard), Tecelinga (Tötschling), Tiles (Tils), Costa d'Elvas (Kranebitt), Monte Ruzzo (Schrambach), Sarnes (Sarns).

• Regensburg, Germany, since 1969.
• Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic, since 1992.
• Bled, Slovenia, since 2004.

• (Italian) (German) Homepage of the city

v • d • e Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol · Comuni of the Province of Bolzano-Bozen
	Ahrntal (Valle Aurina) · Aldein (Aldino) · Algund (Lagundo) · Altrei (Anterivo) · Andrian (Andriano) · Auer (Ora) · Badia (Abtei) · Barbian (Barbiano) · Bolzano (Bozen) · Brenner (Brennero) · Brixen (Bressanone) · Bronzolo (Branzoll) · Bruneck (Brunico) · Burgstall (Postal) · Corvara (Corvara iB, Kurfar) · Deutschnofen (Nova Ponente) · Eppan adW (Appiano ssdv) · Feldthurns (Velturno) · Franzensfeste (Fortezza) · Freienfeld (Campo di Trens) · Gais · Gargazon (Gargazzone) · Glurns (Glorenza) · Graun iV (Curon V) · Gsies (Valle di Casies) · Hafling (Avelengo) · Innichen (San Candido) · Jenesien (S Genesio A) · Kaltern adW (Caldaro ssdv) · Karneid (Cornedo all'Isarco) · Kastelbell-Tschars (Castelbello-Ciardes) · Kastelruth (Castelrotto) · Kiens (Chienes) · Klausen (Chiusa) · Kuens (Caines) · Kurtatsch adW (Cortaccia ssdv) · Kurtinig adW (Cortina ssdv) · Laas (Lasa) · Laives (Leifers) · Lajen (Laion) · Lana · Latsch (Laces) · Laurein (Lauregno) · La Val (La Valle, Wengen) · Lüsen (Luson) · Mals (Malles V) · Mareo (Marebbe, Enneberg) · Margreid adW (Magrè ssdv) · Marling (Marlengo)· Martell (Martello) · Merano (Meran) · Mölten (Meltina) · Montan (Montagna) · Moos iP (Moso iP) · Mühlbach (Rio di Pusteria) · Mühlwald (Selva dei Molini) · Nals (Nalles) · Naturns (Naturno) · Natz-Schabs (Naz-Sciaves) · Neumarkt (Egna) · Niederdorf (Villabassa) · Olang (Valdaora) · Partschins (Parcines) · Percha (Perca) · Pfalzen (Falzes) · Pfitsch (Val di Vizze) · Plaus · Prad aS (Prato aS) · Prags (Braies) · Prettau (Predoi) · Proveis (Proves) · Rasen-Antholz (Rasun Anterselva) · Ratschings (Racines) · Riffian (Rifiano) · Ritten (Renon) · Rodeneck (Rodengo) · Salorno (Salurn) · Sand in Taufers (Campo Tures) · S Crestina G (S Cristina VG, St Christina iG) · St Leonhard iP (S Leonardo iP) · St Lorenzen (S Lorenzo dS) · St Martin iP (S Martino iP) · S Martin dT (S Martino iB, St Martin iT) · St Pankraz (S Pancrazio) · Sarntal (Sarentino) · Schenna (Scena) · Schlanders (Silandro) · Schluderns (Sluderno) · Schnals (Senales) · Sëlva (Selva dVG, Wolkenstein iG) · Sexten (Sesto) · Sterzing (Vipiteno) · Stilfs (Stelvio) · Taufers iM (Tubre) · Terenten (Terento) · Terlan (Terlano) · Tiers (Tires) · Tirol (Tirolo) · Tisens (Tesimo) · Toblach (Dobbiaco) · Tramin adW (Termeno ssdv) · Truden (Trodena) · Tscherms (Cermes) · Ulten (Ultimo) · UL Frau iW-St Felix (Senale-S Felice) · Urtijëi (Ortisei, St. Ulrich) · Vadena (Pfatten) · Vahrn (Varna) · Villanders (Villandro) · Villnöß (Funes) · Vintl (Vandoies) · Völs aS (Fiè aS) · Vöran (Verano) · Waidbruck (Ponte Gardena) · Welsberg-Taisten (Monguelfo-Tesido) · Welschnofen (Nova Levante)