Merano (Meran in German) is an Italian spa town in the province of Bolzano. It is located in the valley of Adgio Alto on the border of the Ötztal Alps, the Ortles and the Sarntal Alps. In Merano, 37,000 inhabitants live and is the second largest city of the province of Bolzano and also Italy northernmost positioned city.

Originally, this was a Roman military camp lying at an important crossroads of business and military routes to the Reschen Pass and the Brenner Pass. Today's town was founded in the 9th century. In the 12th century, a castle was established and, since the 19th century, a spa for the treatment of lung diseases has been operating here. In the 14th - 15th century, Merano was the capital of the whole of Tyrol, a region belonging to the mighty and culturaly diverse, multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire. 

River Passirio (Passer in German) flows through the city center. The historic part of the city is located on the right bank of the river. In the historical center are preserved burghers' houses from the 14th century. The main street in the city is the Corso Liberta promenade. In the center of the building there is the Piazza Teatro with Art Nouveau Theater Teatro Civico from 1900. Further to the east, we find the Art Nouveau Kurzhaus from 1874, where concerts are held today. 

One of the oldest streets is Via Portici (with a number of restaurants), which rises to the main skyline of the city with the city’s dominant structure: the Gothic parish church of San Nicoló from 14th to 15th century. Its bell tower reaches the highest point in the city: 83 meters. To the right of the church is a single Renaissance building--Meran's Mamming Palace. 

Three city gates have been preserved in the old city: Porta Passiria (North Passeier Tor), Porte Venosta (Vinschgauer Tor) in the western part of the old town and Porta Bolzano (Bozener Tor) in the south. In the northern part there is a small castle Castello Principesco, which was the emperor's summer residence from the 16th century.

On the left bank of the river, opposite the old town, is Piazza Terme. There is a spa with thermal baths, a swimming pool, a sauna and other spa facilities. There is also a promenade. On the eastern border of the city lies Castel Trautmannsdorf with its gardens, which are the museum's interiors. Two kilometers north of Merano lies the village of Tirolo (Tirol), overlooking the castle of Tirol, built between 1120-1180 as the family seat of Tyrolean rulers. In 1335, the former King Henry Carinthian died in the castle, who fled from Bohemia in front of the Luxembourg.

The synagogue in Merano was built between 1900 and 1901. The synagogue on Schillerstrasse, built on behalf of the Jewish community of Meran, is a protected architectural monument. The neoclassical synagogue was built according to the plans of the architecture firm Musch & Lun from Austria. On March 27, 1901, it was solemnly inaugurated. 

The festive sermon was given by Aron Tänzer, who was to become rabbi of the Jewish community Meran from 1905 to 1907. The construction was financially supported by the Königswarter Foundation. Merano still has a tiny Jewish community until today and synagogue is accessible for tours and davening. 

Not many would consider Merano as a premier destination for a Jewish vacation, but it is a pleasant town to visit and worth considering as a place to stay for a short while.