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Bolzano, Bernard

Bolzano, Bernard, 1781-1848, Czech philosopher, mathematician, and theologian. Though as a Catholic priest he himself was primarily concerned with religious and ethical questions, he is known today for his work in philosophy, methodology of science, mathematics, and logic. Among his important works are Wissenschaftslehre (1837), an attempt at a complete theory of science and knowledge; Rein analytischer Beweis (1817), which contains an early successful attempt to free differential calculus from the concept of infinitesimals; and Theorie der reelen Zahlen, which laid the cornerstone of the theory of real numbers. He tried to devise a geometry without the use of Euclid's parallel postulate, developed a fairly complete theory of real functions, and worked at an ideal language. However, his work did not attract the attention of his contemporaries and thus did not influence the development of mathematics.

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Bolzano

''For the mathematician, see Bernard Bolzano; for other uses, see Bolzano (disambiguation).

Bolzano (German: Bozen, archaic Botzen; Ladin: Bulsan; Bauzanum; many of the region's Italian languages/dialects use Bolzan or Bulsan) is a city in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region of Italy. Bolzano is the capital of the province of Bolzano-Bozen.

The Museum of Archeology in Bolzano is where the ice-mummy "Ötzi" is kept.

In 2008 Bolzano will be one of the locations in the region Trentino-Alto Adige where the seventh edition of the world renowned Manifesta, the European Biennial of Contemporary Art will be held.

The city is also the home of the Italian Army's Alpini High Command (COMALP) and some of its combat and support units.

History

Initially inhabited by the Raetians, the area was settled by the Romans in 15 BC, by general Nero Claudius Drusus, to whom referred the name of the first settlement in the area (an army camp with a bridge by the Isarco River). The nearby founded village was called Bauzanum. Bolzano has been a trading point since its foundation and elevation to a town over 800 years ago, due to its location in between the two major cities of Venice and Augsburg. Four times a year a market was held and traders came from the south and the north. The mercantile magistrate was therefore founded in 1635. Every market season two Italian and two German officers (appointed from the traders who operated there) worked in this office. The city was a cultural crosspoint at that time.

Before World War I, Bolzano was part of the Austro-Hungarian county of Tyrol. It was annexed by Italy at the end of the war and later became capital of the autonomous Province of Bolzano-Bozen.

Society and economy

According to the 2001 census, 73% of the city inhabitants were Italian speakers. 26% speak German and 1% Ladin as their first language. The city thrives on a mix of old and new—high-quality intensive agriculture (including wine, fruit and dairy products), tourism, traditional handicraft (wood, ceramics) and advanced services. Heavy industry (machinery, automotive, steel) installed during the 1930s has now been mostly dismanteled. On the downside, the local economy is very dependent on the public sector, and especially the provincial government.

Bolzano was ranked as having the second highest quality of life of Italian cities in 2007, with neighbouring Trento topping the list .

Main sights

The city's Italian-Austrian character, enhanced by the narrow cobblestone streets, Habsburg-era churches and pervasive bilingual signage give it the unique flavour of a city at crossroads between Italian and Austrian cultures. This, and its natural and cultural attractions make it a renowned tourist destination.

Among the major monuments and sights are:

Walther Square, with a statue of Walther von der Vogelweide, the German minstrel (minnesinger);
the South Tyrol Archeological Museum, which hosts the mummy of Ötzi the Iceman;
the Gothic Cathedral, started in 1184, probably on the foundations of a Roman villa and rebuilt in the 14th Century by architects Martin and Peter Schiche (completed 1382);
various castles, including Mareccio Castle, Roncolo Castle and Firmiano Castle;
the First World War Victory Monument, a controversial monument built by Mussolini in 1928.
the Messner Mountain Museum Firmian