The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle rank among Europe's most celebrated botanical gardens, spreading across the eastern edge of Merano in South Tyrol. Covering twelve hectares around a medieval castle, the gardens bring together plants from every continent - palms, citrus groves, giant sequoias, rhododendrons - arranged into more than 80 distinct landscapes.

Unlike most flat botanical gardens, this one climbs and descends a hillside with roughly 100 metres of elevation difference, comparable to the famous La Mortella gardens on Ischia. In summer, citrus groves and vineyards fill the air with Mediterranean scent; in autumn the deciduous forests turn brilliant colours; and thanks to Merano's mild climate, exotic species thrive even in winter. The castle itself houses the Touriseum, South Tyrol's museum of tourism, while artist pavilions and interactive stations are scattered throughout the grounds.

• Merano/Meran town centre - about 20-30 minutes on foot or by local bus, easy route
• Sissi Promenade (Sissi-Weg) - a walking path connecting central Merano with the gardens, easy

• Seasonal opening, with around 400,000 visitors per year
• Four main areas: Woodland Gardens, Sun Gardens, Water and Terrace Gardens, and the Landscapes of South Tyrol
• The castle houses the Touriseum, South Tyrol's museum of tourism
• Highlights include a multimedia grotto, a walk-through aviary, Matteo Thun's viewing platform, and a bee house

Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi) walked these very slopes during her winter stays in Merano, and the path she had built through the downy oak forest survives today as the Sissi Promenade.