Salzburg: summer in note and relaxation in the cooler

Some say that Salzburg is a city you can hear with your eyes: the baroque palaces, the bell towers reflected in the Salzach River, the five mountains (Festungsberg, Mönchsberg, Kapuzinerberg, Rainberg, Hellbrunnerberg and Gaisberg) that embrace it from all sides are elements that compose a kind of visual symphony. But summer also brings visitors another kind of music, that of the historic Salzburg Festival, which invades the squares, cloisters and gardens and ideally takes the city back to Mozart's time: this year it runs from 18 July to 31 August and not to be missed are the concerts held on the bastions of the Hohensalzburg fortress. For lovers of greenery, Salzburg is an ideal destination thanks to its many scenic gardens, the most spectacular of which is at Mirabell Castle, with its symmetrical flowerbeds, the Pegasus Fountain and a harmony between nature and architecture that has also inspired the cinema (Rober Wise's 'The Sound of Music', winner of two Oscars, was filmed here). Another garden worthy of a visit is inside the Residenzgalerie, a green terrace with a view over the roofs and domes of the old town, while a walk along the tree-lined avenue leading to Hellbrunn Palace, the 17th-century jewel commissioned by prince-archbishop Markus Sittikus to delight his guests with the water games set up in the park, is not to be missed. Equally inviting places to seek refreshment are the déhor in the shade of the horse chestnuts of the historic Augustinerbräu brewery, while those who prefer an aperitif with a panoramic view can climb to the top floor of the Hotel Stein, directly overlooking the Salzach River, along the banks of which runs a convenient cycle path. Finally, a walk up the Mönchsberg, the hill behind the old town, offers the chance to lose oneself in shady paths and panoramic views and to make a detour to the Museum of Modern Art, an exhibition space that from 3 October (and until 12 April 2026) will host a major video art exhibition entitled 'In Motion. Video Art and Its Political and Social Dimensions. From Valie Export to Martha Rosler'.