While visiting my girlfriend in Budapest, we took a side trip to Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Those who are familiar with my blog must know that I’m a diehard Mozart fanatic. Have you ever cooked a Sunday pasta dinner while listening to Don Giovanni? You must try it, I say! Must!
In any event, I was struck by the breathtaking natural beauty of this small city on the Eastern edge of the Alps. In all my days of reading about, hearing about and listening to Mozart, I seemed to have missed this fact. Gorgeous snow-capped peaks loom in the distance, and Salzburg is surrounded by rocky hills, small and large. There is also a very large fortress on one of these hills overlooking the old town.
A view from the tower of the fortress
We visited the house where Mozart was born (main pic, above), which is a very good museum on his early life and beyond. Included in the displays were a lock of Mozart’s hair and the violin he played as a child. The literature was very interesting, stressing that Mozart was never poor and in fact did quite well for himself. He just liked to spend money, you see. The house is situated right on one of the main streets of the old town, which is immaculately kept up. You would never know the buildings are all centuries old.
The Mozart family eventually moved to lodgings on the other side of the river. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit, but I hope to go back. You could easily spend a week in Salzburg, as long as you have an interest in going outdoors and getting some exercise. The hiking would appear to be first rate. The restaurants are also excellent, and we were lucky enough to encounter a Krumpus at one of the them.
One interesting thing about Salzburg and Vienna is that the population there certainly seems to have money, and everything runs like clockwork. But visiting is not expensive up to the eyeballs as it is in cities like New York, London and Copenhagen. Makes you kinda wonder…
But back to Mozart. Well, anyway, in a last note, I must say that it’s not all that surprising that Mozart grew up in a place of such awesome natural beauty. It’s reflected in his music, naturally. Oh yes, one other thing – there is an incredible cathedral – The Salzburg Cathedral, where Mozart was baptized. There has been a church on the site since 774 AD and the present building dates from 1628. There are excavated portions of the earlier buildings in a lower area that you can visit. It’s a magnificent church. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to hear any music. We are sure to return one day. -Christian Botta
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