The history of Athesia dates back to 1988. In the early years, the Athesia Group focused primarily on the media, bookselling, publishing and printing sectors. During the 1990s, the company's business activities became increasingly diversified. In addition to the publishing and media, the Athesia Group now includes a number of other businesses in the tourism and energy sectors.
Scroll down and find out more about the historical milestones of the single branches of the Athesia Group.
Building on traditional foundations dating back to 1889, Athesia works to a progressive, future-oriented ethos in all areas of the company. Within its print, trade, publishing, media, energy and tourism businesses – Athesia Group’s 1,500 employees ensure the highest standard in quality products and services every day – in South Tyrol and beyond.
The first edition of Trentino was printed in 1945, as a supplement for Bolzano daily newspaper “Alto Adige”. It became an independent local newspaper under the name "Trentino" many years later. In 2021, the print edition ceased. Trentino is now an online-only news portal, which remains successful to this day, producing online content for the people of Trento/Trentino, featuring local and national news, sport and comment.
In 2020, the daily newspapers Alto Adige and Trentino celebrate their 75th anniversary. The newspaper was founded back in 1945 by the National Liberation Committee. Today the Alto Adige and Trentino are among the most important daily newspapers of the region.
At the beginning of 2020, Athesia accepted the purchase offer for Brennercom from Retelit Digital Services S.p.A. At the same time, the Athesia Group acquired more than 5 per cent of shares in Retelit S.p.A., becoming the fourth largest shareholder of the ICT company listed on the Milan stock exchange.
Since April 2019, the newspaper l'Adige has been printed in the Athesia printing establishment in Bolzano. During this year, the presence of Radio Dolomiti in South Tyrol has been strengthened, especially in Merano and in Val Venosta. In 2019, Media Alpi has prepared to become the exclusive concessionaire of the Italian media division of Athesia.
In 2018, Athesia participated in the national consortium In Ufficio and took over the company Conter Forniture. Loeff System became Loeff Conter. In the same year, the Trentino based publishing house Curcu Genovese joined the Athesia Group. The publishing team produces around 30 new publications and reprints on local topics each year.
Since 2018 the publishing house Eiland-Verlag, which was founded in 1976 on Sylt, has been part of Athesia Kalenderverlag. In the same year, the market leader for B2B calendars in Switzerland, Calendaria, based in Immensee, joined Athesia.
In 2018 the Athesia Group acquired the newspaper l'Adige, founded in Trentino in 1945 as Il Popolo Trentino and since 1951 published under the name l'Adige. In July of the same year Radio Dolomiti, a radio station founded in 1975, joined the Athesia Group. In 2018, the Athesia Group also acquired the advertising agency Media Alpi Pubblicità, founded in 2003.
In 2018, the Athesia Group acquired all the shares in Brennercom. The ICT and TLC provider was founded in 1998 and is now the market leader in the region Trentino-South Tyrol, operating successfully beyond the country's borders too. MET is a subsidiary of Brennercom.
By taking over the shares of the Schröcksnadel family, the Athesia Group became the largest single shareholder of the Funivie Ghiacciai Val Senales s.p.a.
Further investment in sheetfed offset ensured that important product groups such as calendars and brochures were preserved for the future. The purchase of two Heidelberg Speedmaster XL presses made it possible to produce both short and long runs, standardized and non-standardized products, easily and efficiently. This marked a new era in classic sheetfed offset as well.
On January 10th 2017 the first copies of the newspapers Alto Adige and Trentino were printed at the Athesia printing house in via del Vigneto in Bolzano. In the same year, the company acquired the weekly Bazar, distributed as a supplement to the two daily newspapers. In 2017, another weekly was launched: the TV program and lifestyle magazine Monitor is also published with the newspapers Alto Adige and Trentino.
The company AT-touristik Srl was founded in October 2017. It combines the brands Alpina Tourdolomit and aveo tours as well as the shares of the Hotel Terme Merano Srl.
In November 2016 Athesia acquired SETA, the publishing company of the daily newspapers Alto Adige and Trentino, which were founded back in 1945 by the National Liberation Committee and in particular by some partisans. At that time, the newspaper was called Alto Adige both in Bolzano and in Trento (where it opened its first branch in 1946). In 2002, the edition of Trento became an independent newspaper. Since then it has been published under the name Trentino.
The newspaper dispatch was adapted to the new technical possibilities. By purchasing a used Ferag system, the production speed could be increased from 20,000 copies per hour to 40,000 copies per hour. In addition, up to eight inserts could now be fed via rollstream and glued to the title page using Triliner cards.
Athesia acquired a majority stake in Canins – a leading company in the packaging sector that has been serving the trade, industrial and gastronomic sectors since 1963.
Since 2015 the publishing houses Heye, Harenberg and Weingarten have been a part of Athesia Kalenderverlag. Heye was founded in 1964, Harenberg in 1973 and Weingarten in 1976. The three publishing houses merged in 2010 to form the KV&H Verlag and are now part of the Athesia Group. Since 2015, the Athesia Kalenderverlag has also distributed the calendars belonging to the Athesia Tappeiner Verlag.
Together with the entrepreneur family Schröcksnadel from Innsbruck, Athesia took over the majority of shares of the Funivie Ghiacciai Val Senales s.p.a.
The new Colorman XXL newspaper press went into operation in the printing plants in Bolzano. This major technical investment enabled a previously unknown quality and speed in newspaper printing in South Tyrol. Instead of the previous 25,000 copies per hour, 90,000 copies can now be produced in double production.
The Athesia Group acquired the publishing house Tappeiner-Verlag. Today, it develops, produces and distributes books and high-quality cartographic products under the brand Athesia Tappeiner Verlag.
In 2012 Athesia Energy opened its first two bioenergy plants in Budrio (BO). At the same time, the company launched the Pelle Rossa project: The waste heat from the plant's engine is transported to an innovative tomato greenhouse in proximity of the plant, heating the greenhouse without any need for fossil energy sources. The third bioenergy plant in Galliera (BO) followed in 2014.
In May 2012, the daily Dolomiten celebrated its 130th anniversary. Originally founded as Tiroler Sonntagsbote, the newspaper first became Der Tiroler, then Der Landsmann and finally Dolomiten.
The Athesia Group joined the Hotel Terme Merano company. The only spa hotel in South Tyrol is located in the heart of Merano and is still run by three experienced and successful hotelier families.
Athesia Energy built its first photovoltaic system in April 2011 in Lequile (LE). In the same year, two further systems were installed in Bolzano and San Vito dei Normanni (BR). These were followed by the one in Isola Rizza (VR) and by those in Castello D'Argile (BO), Cologna Veneta (VR) and Pescantina (VR). Nowadays, Athesia Energy operates photovoltaic systems in eleven different locations.
Athesia Energy was founded in 2010. The initiative was launched at a time when environmental topics were gaining more and more importance. Renewable energies represented an investment opportunity with interesting future prospects. After having examined various projects, the company decided to first invest in the areas of photovoltaics, bioenergy and hydropower.
Athesia acquired the Loeff System company. 18 employees are currently supplying around 5000 customers and manage more than 40,000 deliveries per year.
The Athesia Group acquires shares of the Cierrevecchi company and of the Austrian company BuchMedia Marketing Gesellschaft Wien. During the same year, a new logistics center for the wholesale trade (Grafus Srl) was built in via Toni-Ebner in Bolzano. Today, the sales of the company's own publishing houses are administered in this facility and more than 20,000 articles are stored and managed on an area of around 6,000 m².
The Athesia Group took over all company shares of Grafus and Fotrans.
The brand aveo tours was created specifically for the charter flight service. The direct flights from Bolzano to popular holiday destinations are available from May to early August and can be booked through all travel agencies.
QuiBolzano is the first Italian free paper published by Athesia. The project was first launched in 2008 and quickly proved to be a success. In the following years, five more magazines appeared, even beyond the borders of the province: QuiMerano, QuiBassaAtesina, QuiValleIsarco, QuiTrento and QuiRovereto. The editions QuiBolzano, QuiMerano and QuiBassaAtesina are still published every two weeks. With around 76,000 copies, QuiMedia is one of the most widely read newspapers on the Italian market.
More than eight million euros were invested in the technical equipment of the printing facility. New offset presses were purchased for Innsbruck and Bolzano: a new technical era at both printing locations had begun. The main advantages were in the automatic ink supply and ink control as well as in the fully automatic plate changing, with an integrated washing system.
After the expansion of the rotary press in July, the daily newspaper Dolomiten appeared in four colors for the first time. The purchase of a used printing tower made it possible to increase the number of pages of the Dolomiten by a further 16 4C pages. In one printing process, 80 pages could now be printed in Berlin format, of which 40 pages in four colors, 24 pages in two colors and 16 pages in one color.
Expansions took place in Bressanone and Bolzano: 2002 saw the completion of the newly built printing plant and media center in Bressanone; in 2003, Bolzano celebrated the opening of the renovated printing facility Ferrari-Auer in the city center. The modernization enabled investments in bookbinding and sheet-fed offset printing.
In 2001, charter flights from Bolzano were added to the offer of organized group tours.
In 2000, the first edition of So kocht Südtirol was published. The illustrated recipe book has now been published in its 17th edition and is South Tyrol's top bestseller with a total of around 150,000 copies sold.
In May 1999, the first Alpina Tourdolomit branch was opened in the province of Trento. From beach holidays, city trips to cruises, customers from Trentino can now book their individual holiday package at Alpina Tourdolomit.
Starting from 1998, Athesia strengthened the distribution of books through its own book dispatch.
In October 1996 the e-paper Dolomiten Online, www.dolomiten.it, was launched. On 8 November 1997, the news portal Südtirol Online, www.stol.it, went online.
Alpina Tourdolomit belonged entirely to Athesia from 1995 ensuring the travel agency's offer would range from individual tours to all-inclusive and group tours, day trips and congresses.
After the retirement of Josef Rampold, Toni Ebner Jr was appointed editor-in-chief. In 1995, both the title page and the advertising pages of the Dolomiten appeared in color for the first time.
Athesia’s first venture into tourism occurred through the acquisition of Tourdolomit shares. Alpina Tourdolomit is the result of the merger of the company Alpina and the travel agency Tourdolomit.
Athesia opened the largest paper shop of South Tyrol in Bolzano. The shop is still one of the most important stores for school, handicraft and office supplies in the region.
In 1987 the Dolomiten-Wirtschaftskurier, or WIKU for short, appeared for the first time. The weekly supplement extended the mediatic offer of Athesia with economic articles, job and real estate advertisements. In 1989, the Sunday paper Zett am Sonntag was launched.
In 1986, the purchase of a 6-color machine enabled the Athesia printing establishment in Bolzano to break new ground in offset printing. In 1987, the department was expanded by the purchase of a 4-color offset machine for the facility in via del vigneto and a 2-color offset machine for the printing facility Ferrari-Auer in the city center of Bolzano.
In 1986 Athesia started its paper trade activity. Nine years later, in 1997, Athesia merged with Amonn to form the company Grafus – South Tyrol's leading wholesaler for books, paper and stationery.
At the beginning of the 1980s, the printing of the newspaper Dolomiten was digitized. The last metal type edition was published on January 12th.
In 1982, the new bookbinding building in via del vigneto in Bolzano was completed. Thanks to the new production techniques, the product range now included flyers, maps and calendars, the latter of which would become the printing company's flagship product. In the same year, the daily newspaper Dolomiten was produced by computer for the very first time.
Toni Ebner Sr died unexpectedly. Josef Rampold took over as Editor-in-Chief of the Dolomiten.
Thanks to Toni Ebner Sr’s entrepreneurial skills, the company was able to create a solid economic base during the years of industrial upswing. In 1967, the new printing and publishing headquarters in via del vigneto in Bolzano, which is still the printing and editorial center of the Dolomiten.
In 1951 Toni Ebner Sr took over the management of the publishing house Athesia. After Michael Gamper’s death in 1956, Toni Ebner Sr also became editor-in-chief of the Dolomiten.
After all the company's real estate, goods and machinery had been transferred to the Nazis in 1943, the Athesia publishing house returned to its rightful owners in May 1945, after the end of World War II. During this period, the printing was moved to the bishop's town Bressanone, whose branch, in contrast to Bolzano, had not suffered any damage.
In May 1945, immediately after the end of World War II, the Athesia publishing house was returned to its rightful owners. Although the printing house in Bolzano had been destroyed by bombs, the newspaper Dolomiten was republished on May 19th 1945 as the only German newspaper in South Tyrol. Canon Michael Gamper became editor-in-chief of the Dolomiten and the director of Athesia.
In 1943, the Athesia publishing house was occupied and requisitioned by Nazi troops. Editor-in-chief Rudolf Posch and editor Friedl Volgger were deported to Dachau concentration camp. Canon Michael Gamper was able to flee to Tuscany.
In 1926 all non-fascist newspapers were banned in Italy. In January 1927 Canon Michael Gamper obtained – with the support of the Vatican – permission to publish the newspapers Volksbote and Dolomiten as Catholic newspapers.
In 1925 the fascists banned the term “Tyrol” and later all German names. The publishing house Tyrolia became Vogelweider, which eventually became Athesia in 1936.
After the separation of Tyrol, the publishing house opened a branch in Bolzano for projects in South Tyrol in 1920. Canon Michael Gamper then took over the management of the company.
During World War I, the publishing house Tyrolia was economically successful despite the war, a struggling economy and censorship. The number of subscribers in South, North and East Tyrol rose to 80,000.
The press associations of Bressanone and Bolzano merged to form the company Tyrolia.
The newspaper Der Tiroler was published for the first time.
The press association of Bolzano – the Bozner Preßverein – acquired a printing facility to print the newspapers Der Tiroler and the Tiroler Bauernzeitung. In 1907 press associations of Bressanone and Bolzano merged to form the Tyrolia society. Tyrolia took over the printing shops and bookstores in Bressanone and Vipiteno and opened a printing facility in Innsbruck.
The Catholic-Political Press Association of Bressanone – the Katholisch-Politischer Preßverein Brixen – which published the town’s chronicles, was founded. In the same year, the printing facility in Bressanone was inaugurated; in the former bell foundry, the water wheel was moved by the water of the Isarco river, activating the first printing machine of the soon-to-be-founded publishing house Tyrolia.
Since the beginnings of the company in 1888, Athesia has been publishing books and distributing them through its own bookstores. At the beginning of the publishing activity, the company produced picture calendars, but in the course of the years the offer was enriched with several books on topics such as hiking, cooking, religion, art, regional culture and geography and novels.
In 1888 the Christian social movement of Bressanone founded the local newspaper Brixener Chronik as a reaction to the liberal citizenship. On the initiative of Aemilian Schoepfer, professor of theology, the Catholic-Political Press Association – katholisch-politischer Preßverein – was founded in 1890.
