TRAVEL PLANNER - FAMOUSLY BEAUTIFUL

TRAVEL  PLANNER - FAMOUSLY BEAUTIFUL





The land of Mozart is dotted with castles, cathedrals and palaces.

Down some home-made schnapps and go out in search of The Sound of Music

Headed for Vienna? Add Salzburg and Innsbruck to your itinerary.

Baroque architecture, lush coun tryside, cobbled pathways, horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping in and out of narrow lanes, not to mention some great cuisine, and wine... there's more!

We begin our holiday with a tour of Schonbrunn Palace in the Austrian capital, Vienna. The home of Franz Joseph, the longest reigning monarch is now a museum. The 1,441-room baroque palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historical monuments in the country. Winding our way to the top leaves us breathless, but the view of the Vienna skyline makes it worth the effort. Tip: The summer residence of the Habsburgs (royal house) in later years is on every tourist's itinerary ­ so book your tickets online.

TOUCH OF ROYALTY

Unlike Vienna's other royal residences, Hofburg Palace is like a city within a city. The 13th-century palace shelters several individual attractions, and if you want a com plete royal experience, you'll need to spend at least half a day here. The oldest parts surround the Swiss Court, named after the guards who patrolled the area. The Imperial Apartments have 2,000-odd rooms.

During our walk we came across a yellow building. It's Mozart House, the place where the composer lived and created music. The museum pro vides information about his life and displays his musical compositions. The displays at Mozart House also give a perspective into how affluent sections of society lived in the 18th century.

The next morning we head out to Salzburg. Just under 3 hours by bus or car, Salzburg is synonymous with the Julie Andrews-Christopher Plummer hit, The Sound of Music. Every part of this town seems to resonate with the film. From guides showing locales where the film was shot (see box) to souvenirs, the town has Maria and the von Trapp family beaming out of shops in the form of coasters, fridge magnets and what not.

MAKING MUSIC

We spare a moment to admire the beauty of Salzburg, famed equally for its architecture as well as its picturesque setting. It also enjoys a special fame in the world of music as the birthplace of Mozart. We end our visit with a trip to Salzburg Cathedral. Completed in 1657 it is famous for its architecture and its role as the location of Mozart's baptism. Notable features include its three massive bronze doors with their symbols of Faith, Love, and Hope and the a high altar with the Resurrec tion painted in 1628. Look out for Makartsteg Bridge, also known as Love Lock Bridge. It is known as Austria's famous pedestrian bridge ­ not with out reason. Lovers engrave their names on locks and fix it to the bridge. Then they throw away the key, signifying their eternal love.

A little over 2 hours by bus (from Salzburg) takes us to Innsbruck. The skyline is dominated by the castle of Hohensalzburg, on the summit of the Mönchs berg mountains. Accessible by a short walk from the Old Town centre -the original castle was built in 1077 much of what's seen today dates from the 1500s.

WEDDING VOWS

Travelling to the Old Town takes us to the Golden Roof. This Gothic-styled window, adorned with gilded copper tiles, was built in 1496 to commemorate Roman Emperor Maximilian I's marriage to Bianca Maria Sforza and served as a `box' from which the court watched festivities in the square below. Those who wish to get close to the upper reaches of the mountains, should step into cable cars. At an an altitude of 6,560 ft, enjoy a cuppa even as you find yourself dwarfed by the mountains.

Mitali Kar Nov 05 2017 : The Times of India (Mumbai)