Salzburg, places to visit?

Where Mozart is omnipresent

Surrounded by the breathtaking Alps, Salzburg is a genuine Baroque gem which was developed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries by the prince archbishops who governed the city. Impressed by the luxurious grandeur of papal Rome at the time they visited, they called to their court Italian architects and artists to emulate the splendour of the headquarters of Christianity. Façades of churches, buildings, gardens and fountains were built in magnificent Baroque style, giving this beautiful city an individuality that is visibly recognisable. It became known for this reason as “Rome of the North”. The city also owes its splendour to the enormous riches it acquired during the same period; riches made from the sale of salt, which was abundant in the area (Salzburg means castle of salt), and gold.

Two small mountains overlook the city, Kapuzinerberg and Mönchsberg: the imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress (High Salzburg) was built on the latter in the Middle Ages. The largest in Central Europe, this fortress is built of white stone and surrounded by huge bastions that helped make it unassailable for centuries. Today it can be reached using a spectacular funicular railway. It is the most visited monument in Austria, partly because an important museum is located in front of the fortress: the Museum of Modern Art.

The centre is the Old Town, which is dominated by the Baroque domes of the churches and by splendid palaces, including the Mirabell, built for the favourite of a prince archbishop, Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau. Its spectacular Italian gardens, decorated with statue of the heroes of antiquity, are today open to the public.

Over the years work on the Cathedral (Salzburger Dom), a splendid construction that harmoniously combines Romanesque and Gothic styles, was carried out even by Italian architects such as Santino Solari and Vincenzo Scamozzi as well as the famous sculptor Giacomo Manzù, who made the central door, the Door of Love, in bronze with wonderful bas-reliefs.

On the outskirts of the city, don’t miss a trip to Hellbrunn Castle, the summer residence of a prince archbishop, which was commissioned in 1612 and is one of the most splendid Renaissance buildings north of the Alps with spectacular water features in its gardens.

Salzburg not only boasts exceptional figurative art, its inhabitants also live for music. It is the city of Mozart’s birth - the house where he was born and lived for many years is open to visitors - and is also the location of an important Music Festival, one of the most prestigious in the world, which takes place each year between July and August and lasts for a total of 44 days. There are other extremely popular events, including Mozart Week, which starts on 27th January, the date of the great composer’s birth; the Pentecost Festival, featuring beautiful traditional songs; Advent Singing; and the Aspekte Festival, dedicated to contemporary music, to name but a few.

The city is also filled with extraordinary museums: there are dozens, including museums of art, toys, natural history, musical instruments, folklore, etc.
Outside the city, in its immediate environs, are delightful mountain villages, perfect for relaxation. These include Anthering, where contact with unspoilt nature can be enjoyed by taking walks in the woods or cycle rides; Bergheim, in discovery of the properties of herbs illustrated by true experts; or Eugendorf, where nine restaurants have joined forces to express the culinary art of the area. Local specialities served include roast lamb and cutlets and ribs of pork, and goose and game weeks are organised.

Traditional dishes of Salzburg

Back in Salzburg, a stop at the Cafè Tomaselli is a must. This coffee house offers special types of coffee accompanied by exquisite apple strudel or slices of Mozart and Esterhazy cake, a rich hazelnut cake filled with layers of cream. One of Salzburg’s most popular souvenirs is Mozartkugeln (Mozart’s balls), a sweet delicacy made of chocolate, hazelnuts and marzipan.

Text by Anna Glik

Updated by Alisè Vitri

Avion Tourism Magazine
Photos: Sisterscom.com, Shutterstock
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Monuments of Salzburg

CATHEDRAL OF SALZBURG

This is the most important building of the city. Originally a Romanesque style construction, it was rebuilt in the seventeenth century in Baroque style by the Italian architect Santino Solari, with a facade embellished with bas-reliefs and statues, including those of the Bishop Saints Vergilius and Rupert to which the building is dedicated. Inside, the nave is covered with frescoes; it houses the baptismal font where Mozart was baptised and an organ surrounded by cherubs holding musical instruments. The dome, which is divided into octagons and painted with colourful scenes from the Old Testament, is worthy of admiration.
www.domquartier.at

MOZART'S BIRTHPLACE

Here the great composer was born on 27 January 1756. It contains many mementos of Mozart: his childhood violin and his concert violin, his clavichord, etc. The second floor displays various dioramas (scenes in miniature) which depict the works of Mozart. The International Mozarteum Foundation, which in 1880 created the museum and owns the musician’s house, each year showcases Mozart-themed exhibitions.This is a sort of temple dedicated to the private life of the musician and his family, with artefacts, original instruments, books, portraits and documents belonging to the composer and to the Mozart family; a journey through his life accompanied by the music he composed.
www.mozarteum.at

HELLBRUNN CASTLE

This castle, dating back to 1612, was commissioned as a suburban villa by the prince archbishop Markus Sittikus, who entrusted the task to the Italian architect Santino Solari. The residence is rich in sumptuous rooms, which were used for balls, meetings and performances. The gardens feature hidden water jets. Just above the palace stand the Monatsschloschen, a small castle that houses the Folklore Museum, with furnishings, traditional medical instruments and local costumes.
www.hellbrunn.at

THE OLD RESIDENCE OF SALZBURG

Not far from the Cathedral stands a majestic building that was once the residence of the prince archbishops. Inside it has some 180 rooms; the most sumptuous is the Conference Hall, but all have a rare magnificence, such as the Throne Room, the Study and the Emperor’s Hall, a gallery adorned by portraits of the kings and emperors of the Habsburg dynasty.

HOHENSALZBURG FORTRESS

Built in 1077, the fortress was subsequently enlarged and is now the largest fully intact fortress in central Europe. The apartments of the medieval princes are of particular interest, as is the Golden Chamber with its wonderful Gothic wood-carvings and large golden Stube.
www.salzburg-burgen.at

Museums of Salzburg

SALZBURG MUSEUM

Housed at its current location since 2007, this museum is one of the most important in Europe. Situated in Mozartplatz, it has a series of gala halls, where on the first floor the historical, artistic and cultural development of Salzburg is presented through its people, a tour that extends from the city’s origins to the modern day; works of archaeology and medieval are can be found on the second floor, in the Hall of Mirrors. www.salzburgmuseum.at

MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN SALZBURG

The museum is situated in two buildings: the Rupertinum, in the old town, and another on Mount Mönchsberg, above the roofs of the old town. It houses prestigious twentieth and twenty-first century works, as well as collections of graphic artworks and 1,800 photographs.
www.museumdermoderne.at

Excursions in Salzburg

SALT MINES

A trip to the salt mines, the oldest mines in the world open to the public, is a unique experience. In the nearby town of Hallein, in tunnels in the bowels of Mount Dürrnberg, you can discover the world of the miners who extracted the salt, which was known as “white gold” due to the great riches acquired from its trade.
www.salzwelten.at

BOAT TOUR ON THE SALZACH RIVER

A boat trip on the Salzach River to admire the majestic landscape of Salzburg as far as Hellbrunn Castle with its beautiful gardens with mysterious caves, fountains, water features and geysers.

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