Ötzi
in Bolzano,
Italy is not-to-be-missed in his special museum home.
A former bank, the building
was remodeled to display (as well as preserve and allow the scientific
study of) Ötzi
and his belongings that were discovered along with him on September
19, 1991 in the nearby Ötzal Alps.
The museum
is full of fascinating exhibits. Visitors begin on the entrance floor,
working their way up through the archaeological ages to the fourth
floor (which contains artifacts from the Roman times and early Middle
Ages).
Here
are the highlights:
Entrance
level: 
Visitors are initially greeted by a life-size
hologram of the Iceman as they make their way to the ticket desk
(about $10 for adults; discounts for students, seniors, and families).
Exhibits on this floor set the stage for Ötzi:
the late Paleolithic and Mesolithic Ages are covered.
First
floor: The first floor is the home of Ötzi,
though you may have a hard time locating him. The displays on this
floor are excellent: well-designed and technologically-advanced. The
Ice Man's clothing is displayed in a series of cases (complete with
drawings) that show how each garment was worn. Dominating the scene is
a life-size replica of Ötzi. He was fairly short and not in good
condition, despite what early reports (and most Ötzi books
suggest).
As for Ötzi
himself, he is displayed off to the side in a separate area and is
visible only through a small stainless steel window; he looks smaller
than you might expect and very fragile. You climb a step or two to get
a glimpse: Ötzi in a deep freeze. This display is so discreet that
some people might easily miss it. He looks a little more
frayed--his left thigh in particular has been used for some sampling
it appears. He may have lasted 5,000 years in the glacier, but it is
doubtful that he will last another 5,000 in our modern deep freeze. Of
course, the important thing is not that his body lasts to amaze
museum-goers, but that scientists learn as much as they can of his
life and times so that all of us can be better informed about the
history of the world.
Second
floor: The second floor covers
the Bronze Age with a diorama of the copper smelting furnaces of
Favogna and artifacts (such as a handled goblet from the Laugen
culture). But you might be more impressed by the discoveries of the
Iron Age (also displayed on this floor): about the same time that Ötzi
was found, a pair of "socks" (for lack of a better word) and
two pairs of leggings were found, according to the museum, in the
Reisenferner group in the Val Pusteria. Woven partially from fine
wool, the leggings are the best textiles that survive from this
period.
Museum
shop: Back 
on
the entrance level, the museum also contains a good shop. A great
deal of merchandise is for sale, including many books (mostly in
German or Italian, though there are at least two guidebooks in
English), postcards, key chains, notepads, and even a backpack
for a little Ötzi-phile.
My only complaint: the
display cards that explain each exhibit are written in Italian and
German only. For a museum that will have world appeal, this is a
significant oversight. The museum does offer excellent handheld
computerized listening devices (the kind used in many art museums
around the world), and these explain many displays in a variety of
languages. However, the audio guide does not cover all of the
exhibits, just certain key displays. So a visitor who does not
read German or Italian may not comprehend some of the displays. A
guidebook is, therefore, essential if you want to get as much as you
can out of your visit.
You can visit the South
Tyrol Museum on line (in German, Italian, or English). The shop sells
great Ötzi key chains and mouse pads (even an Ötzi backpack for junior
campers). But the best item for sale is a packet of postcards that depicts Ötzi,
his discovery site, and his many possessions.
TRAVEL
DIRECTIONS: If
you want to visit the museum in Bolzano (also called Bozen), the city
is approximately 3 hours north of Milan and about 90 minutes south of
Innsbruck, Austria. You may find it convenient to fly into Munich
or Milan and then drive to Bolzano.
You can
check airfares and hotel rates at Travelocity.com here:
