Europe 2019 - Day 50 (Part 2)

25 June 2019, Tuesday

Next, to Mozart’s place of birth, where Mozart was born on 27 January 1756. Then we passed the Collegiate Church which is the church of the University of Salzburg. It was built in Baroque style and is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Centre of Salzburg. It is now the parish church of people connected to the university. 

We also saw the Franciscan Church - one of the oldest churches in Salzburg. The first church on this site was erected in the 8th century. Between 1408 and 1450, a Gothic choir replaced the Romanesque choir. A slender Gothic tower was added between 1468 and 1498. The church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and served as the parish church until 1635. It was ceded to the Franciscan Order in 1642. 

The we passed a strange and mysterious looking machine covered in splendid, ornate decor which had a few readings. I later found out that it is a Meteorological Pillar of the 19th century and dates to 1888. Measuring devices on the three sides give the temperature, the barometric pressure, and the humidity of Salzburg. A bronze plaque on the lower portion of one side lists the altitude as being 425.25 meters (1395.18 feet) above the Adriatic Sea.

Passing by the Salzburg Museum which is in a building known as the Residence, we arrived at St Michael’s Church, the oldest parish church in Salzburg's burghers' town. It served as a palace chapel and parish church up to the 12th century. In its double function the church was divided into two sectors: the upper sector was reserved for the emperor and his entourage and was accessed from the palace. The lower sector was accessed from the market square and open to the townsfolk. The principal altar is decorated with an impressive painting of the Archangel Michael conquering Lucifer, whilst the side altars are decorated with paintings of the two archangels, Gabriel and Raphael. Really cool. 

Nearby was Mozartplatz, a peaceful square dominated by an ornate bronze statue of Mozart that was unveiled in the presence of his sons in the 1800’s. Then Domplatz, which is sort of the Main Square with a view of the surrounding mountains. Here there was big sculpture of a man standing on a sphere behind a gigantic chess board (actually the man was small, the sphere was huge and gold).

Next we saw the Salzburg Cathedral, a baroque cathedral. This Cathedral has been demolished and rebuilt several times from its initial creation in 774 and now stands as a striking piece of architecture; the front facade has dual bell towers and outside sits the Marian Column.