Passer River

Since time immemorial, the Passer River has meandered through Merano. Until the high Middle Ages, the living river was both a curse (catastrophic floods) and a blessing (fresh, clean water from the Passiria mountains), but today it is considered Merano's green lung.
The Passer has always accompanied the city of Merano. What starts as a small spring at the Passo Giovo, grows into a respectable river through numerous tributaries from the Passiria Valley, the Sarntal Alps and the Texel Group.

The entire course of the Passer river through Merano is a recreational zone.

In the middle of the 19th century the course of the Passer through Merano was straightened, the river was put into a corset to avoid flooding. Thanks to the foresight of the politicians and spa directors of the time, the unique local recreation zone around the course of the Passer through the spa town, the Merano Promenades, was created at the same time. Along the spa promenade, the Passer pays its respects to the Kurhaus, and at the height of the Merano Thermal Baths you come into direct contact with the river twice. Here, at its widest point, a glass viewing platform awaits you on the spa promenade, which floats freely above the water.

Directly opposite, a direct access was created with the Passer terrace, which is accessible from the spa square.

At the narrow and wild Gilf gorge, the Passer river leaves the Passeier valley north of Merano and thunderously squeezes through the granite rocks to be crossed immediately afterwards by a suggestive bridge. This bridge tempts artists and artists to breathtaking actions again and again.

From here on, the riverbed widens and the water calmly flows towards the 16th century stone footbridge, also known as the Roman Bridge, accompanied by the summer and winter promenade on both sides. After a short bend, the water now runs straight through Merano, past the Wandelhalle, to then pass under the magnificent Post Bridge.

The entire course of the water from the Gilf promenade to the Theater bridge is lined on both sides by the Merano Promenades, magnificently manicured walkways lined with a great variety of different plants and trees.

In 1419 the last great flooding of the city by the Passer took place, of which the large boulders in front of the Holy Spirit Church still bear witness today.

Absolutely worth seeing along the river: the Passer terraces at the level of the Terme Merano, which offer direct access to the water and the Gilf gorge, where the Passer plunges through a narrow corset of granite rock towards Merano. Particularly striking is the well-preserved "Roman Bridge", the stone footbridge from the 17th century, which leads high above the river and connects the old town with Maia Alta.