Sprawling lawns shaded by trees, two 50-metre pools, diving pool with 10-metre tower, and a large children's area complete with slides make the lido an extremely important institution in Bozen (Bolzano) during the hot summer months.
Architects Ettore Sottsass, Sr. and Willy Weyhenmeyer built the complex in 1929 as part of an urban expansion, in the rationalist style. An elongated L-shaped terrace construction with entrance hall, changing rooms, restaurant and sun terraces breaks up the outdoor pool to the north and east; this has remained largely intact, in its original form, up to the present day. Otherwise, the character of the complex has changed over the years as a result of modernisation and of the subsequent construction of an indoor pool.
The pool complex also serves as a training site for Bolzano’s successful divers, who have been top in the world in their discipline for generations. The long tradition of this sport in Bolzano goes back to the diving school of Karl Dibiasi, for whom the pool was named. His son, Klaus Dibiasi, wrote sports history with Olympic victories in 1968, 1972 and 1976, and was later the coach of the Italian national team for many years. His equally successful Bolzano teammate and Giorgio Cagnotto, passed on his talent in turn to his daughter, Tania Cagnotto, who is one of the world’s best divers today and holds numerous national and international titles. There has also been a Grand Prix held in town every year since 1963, an event that brings the world's top divers together in Bolzano. See Bolzano / Karl Dibiasi Indoor Pool.
IDM Film Fund & Commission — Alto Adige
Via del Macello, 73 — 39100 Bolzano
Phone: +39 0471 094 294
Email: luisa.giuliani@idm-suedtirol.com
