In the middle of the centre of Bolzano, where the urban bus lines stop and the Cathedral majestically rises, the most important square of the town is located: the Piazza Walther.

The square was built in 1808 under the Bavarian rule and dedicated to King Maximilian Joseph I. Other namings followed, among them “Johannesplatz” after Archduke Johann of Austria and - for a short time during WWII - “Piazza Vittorio Emanuele”. Nevertheless, since the 19th century it is and remains Piazza Walther (Waltherplatz, in German), because right in the middle of it rises the great monument of the minstrel Walther von der Vogelweide (1170 - 1230), which was erected in 1889 by Heinrich Natter from the Val Venosta valley. In 1985 it returned to the square after a short absence.

Today, the square is a meeting place for young and old, both to go into the town centre together as well as to meet for a cosy cappuccino in the sun or to take part in one of the events. It is not only home to the traditional Christmas Market, also the Flower Market takes place here in spring.