Salzburg, Austria Day One

We got the train from Vienna to Salzburg, a little over two hours, and arrived about 1:00 PM

Our usual familiarization walk.  The river Salzach

The name Salzburg literally means "Salt Fortress", and derives its name from the barges carrying salt on the Salzach river, which were subject to a toll in the 8th century.

A walk around the old town

Another statue of Mozart.  Afterall, Salzburg is his birthplace.  (One of our tour guides later told us he did not much like Salzburg).

One of the many Archbishops I presume

The Salzburg Cathedral or Salzburg Dom is a baroque Cathedral built in the 1600's. Although the Cathedral itself is relatively new, the site it stands on is much older. There are records of the site being used as a Christian place of worship going back to 774.

Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich is responsible for the Cathedral as it is today. Dietrich is also responsible for the Residenz, which stands opposite the Cathedral.

Salzburg's Cathedral is probably the city's most significant piece of church architecture and its ecclesiastical center. With its magnificent façade and mighty dome it represents the most impressive early Baroque edifice north of the Alps. Its origin is closely connected to the ecclesiastical principality's demeanour and growth. Destroyed by fire and rebuilt, enlarged and expanded, it bears witness to the power and independence of Salzburg's archbishops. 

We did not go in today, but will revisit later

Passing through another arch to yet another church

Franziskanerkirche (Franciscan Church)

The history of the Franciscan Church - similar to the history of Salzburg Cathedral - can be traced back to Salzburg's early Christian period. Both churches are distinguished by their contrasting architectural styles: the Cathedral, a dominating Baroque bishops' church and the Franciscan Church, a slender, Gothic church for the middle class. The Cathedral, a stately ecclesiastical structure, the Franciscan Church a place of silent communion. 

A couple of qick pictures in this small church

in the old town

a flower market

a bright colored place

to have a coffee 

St Blasius Church  

Archbishop Frederick III proposed that a civic hospital be built in Salzburg in 1327. The hospital was to offer shelter for the sick and ailing. The townspeople provided the food for the patients, causing it to be called the "civic hospital". The church, built in 1330, was closely affiliated with the hospital.

Along the river

The new town

the old town

Markart Square just around the corner from our hotel

beautiful blooming Magnolia trees

Since 2002 the Salzburg Foundation has installed works of art by renowned, contemporary, international artists with a great deal of commitment. A top-class artist is chosen each year by an independent, international board of trustees and invited to Salzburg, where he/she develops the art concept for a public artwork in and for the city. The project plans to deliver an urban art and sculpture park of the highest quality within a period of 10 years.  One of them was on Markart Square

7th Salzburg Art Project: Anthony Cragg - "Caldera," 2008 
Makart Square 
Anthony Cragg is one of the most notable sculptors of our time. The sculpture designed for Salzburg with the geological name "Caldera," is a veritable landscape of bronze with projections and recesses. The artist sees the sculpture as a 'mental landscape' that can also be experienced inside the actual "cauldron." It is a walk-in sculpture. 

Another we saw while walking in old town

9th Salzburg Art Project: Jaume Plensa, "Awilda," 2010 
Jaume Plensa's sculpture "Awilda" is 5 meters high and portrays the head of a girl that seems to spring from the ground. It is made of several layers of white Macael marble. The figure's overwhelming presence imparts both absence and proximity and envelopes them in mystery. 

We had dinner just behind our hotel at a little cafe.  We sat at a communal table, which is quite traditional in Salzburg.  We had a very nice evening.  The gentlemen and his lady sitting next to Terry was there whhen we arrived.  He is a Professor from Munich, Germany who teaches "Music Conducting" in Salzburg.  The other folks joined us later and were from Vienna.  The professor introduced us to an Austrian wine (only produced and sold in Austria) called Gruner Vetliner, a crisp wonderful white wine.  It quickly became our favorite.  We are now Gru-ve's (lovers of GV).

It is like a house wine and comes in a little pitcher, of which I think we drank three.  Ha

Grüner Veltliner (pronunciation of the umlaut ü is a cross between GROO-ner and GREE-ner, and Veltliner is pronounced as it appears, VEHLT-ly-ner).  Often called Grüner, Gru-Ve or simply GV, this is Austria‘s most widely planted grape, accounting for over one-third of the vineyard plantings in the country.