Salzburg: Old Town (Altstadt)
Salzburg has long been on my bucket list to visit, It’s time to find out if the hills really are “alive with the Sound of Music!” Given that Mozart was born and raised here, the hills may not be filled with music but the town certainly is. Concert opportunities abound.
Old Town (Altstadt) is internationally renowned for its baroque architecture and is one of the best-preserved city centers north of the Alps. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
My first choice was to stay in Altstadt and I found the most amazing Airbnb that is literally over 700 years old and has belonged to the same family for over 100 years. As soon as I walked through the very old door, I could feel the fantastic atmosphere of this place. Fine marble stones cover the romantic staircase and very old Konglomerat stone stairs led up to the flat on the 3rd floor. Loads of metal stag heads on the walls, crucifixes on every floor, and a super creepy picture of 3 scary kids next to the flat’s door all set the stage. The very lumpy and off kilter wood floors where fabulous. I loved this place.
Right around the corner from the flat is Mozartplatz (Mozart Square), a memorial place for Salzburg’s favored son. The square is dominated by the statue of Mozart by Ludwig Schwanthaler, ceremoniously unveiled on September 5, 1842 in the presence of Mozart's sons. This was the first monument dedicated to the great composer. Mozart's widow, Constanze von Nissen, did not live to see the unveiling. She died on March 6th of the same year in the house at Mozartplatz 8.
Also close by, the Salzburg Cathedral. Mozart was baptized here in a baptismal font that is just to the left upon entering the church. This magnificent church in the very center of Salzburg dates from 774.
AND, of course Salzburg would not be complete without a visit to the Mozart’s Birth House Museum. This is the flat where Mozart was born on January 27, 1756 and grew up. The museum traces the family history and life in Salzburg during Mozart’s time. You also experience how different operas were staged, and see some of the composer’s most important keyboards and portraits. This was a very cool experience, highly recommended.
