Innsbruck - Salzburg - Kufstein, Austria. Searching for the typical Christmas time traditions

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8.12.2005 Innsbruck

We start from Varese to 6 o'clock and we head to Innsbruck over the Brenner Pass to travel to our traditional Christmas Markets.

In a motorway around Vipiteno buy the "Cartoons" for the Austrian highways for a period of 10 days (at least affordable). However, this does not absolve us from paying a toll consistent (do not know why) around Innsbruck.

Since we arrived in Innsbruck pretty soon, we decide to go in Wattens (a few km. Innsbruck beyond) to visit the headquarters of Swarovski where the museum KRISTALWELTEN with the adjacent shop. The ticket entitles the visit of the museum (a succession of rooms with games of light) and access to the store where the complete collection available currently on the market at a discounted price of around 10%. However, the articles are those that can be found in all shops in Austria and in Italy.

Returned to Innsbruck, we try our Golden Krone hotel near the Arc de Triomphe, on the main Maria Theresia Strasse. The hotel, which had visited the website (where it seemed better) 3 stars is a quality medium to low. 2 stars in retrospect would have been more than enough. However, the location is quite handy, even if it was possible to find better.

We start the visit of the old town along the beautiful paths around the lodge gold (building principal symbol of the city). A behind the loggia of gold are the stalls of the small Christmas market. Another flea market, a little 'wider is in a square the side Maria Theresia strasse.
Visit the Hofburg, former imperial court, though very far from the magnificence of Vienna, the Hofkirche (church court) with 28 bronze statues of a magnitude greater than the natural and graceful cloister of the Museum of Tyrolean Folk Art Volkskuntmuseum.

For dinner we decide to book all'Ottoburg, attracted by the particular construction which is reminiscent of a castle with many rooms in a different style and Austrian cuisine. All good, all good, medium to high prices but armed with patience: the service is slow.

9.12.2005 Salzburg

We start as soon as possible to the direction of Salzburg. Fortunately for hotels here serve breakfast early, starting at 7 and so not lose time.

We arrive in Salzburg in mid-morning, try our hotel on Linzer Gasse and try to understand where to park.

The hotel Stadtkrug always booked by e-mail, this time is pretty good: in the center, medium to high prices, furnished in style, environments, excellent breakfast.

We visit the city's historic buildings (only externally to lack of time and desire) and the main squares where are located many Christmas markets. Here, the Christmas atmosphere is more evident than in Innsbruck and the most respected traditional Christmas.

Lunch buying tidbits here and there to the marketplace. We draw in particular brezen giant is salted (to the taste of cheese, pizza, ham or just the natural with the salt) and sweet (chocolate or apple). They are wonderful and definitely bigger and softer than those sampled in other locations. Even decide to bring some home.

Can not fail then the mulled wine or punch the various drinks (apple juice or orange hot for those who do not drink alcohol like myself) in the local ceramic cups made specifically for the Christmas market, with the city name and year reference. Who does not want to buy the cup is always given in return receiving the security or use the paper cups.

We decide to visit the Residenz, but only make the mistake of our trip. The Residenz is a building with apartments princely. But we are wrong, and buy plane tickets for the art gallery of which we do not care anything. Do not you like us: the apartments are at the princely 2nd floor art gallery while the 3rd. We discover later that day the apartments were closed and was to lead us in this deception, we will climb up to 3rd floor.

In the evening dinner in a typical large brewery: STERNBRAU which is accessed both by the principal that Griesgasse Getreidegasse. Let's blow the place safe because it has been reported from reading a travel itinerary like that. This is a brewery / restaurant made up of many rooms, each independent of the other but all with the same menu. Do not accept reservations and to find the place you must request a room in a hall. We are lucky because we go on the site very soon, at about 18.45.



10.12.2005 Kufstein - Hall in Tirol

We start early and always we head into a town a few km. over Salzburg HALLEIN. Unfortunately arrived on site we realize that the "leaked" on the site has proved a disappointment: The center, although pretty, is not nothing special and the Christmas market is nonexistent. The fame of Hallein is due only to the nearby salt mines but we do not have the time to visit.

So we head towards the next stage: Kufstein, halfway between Salzburg and Innsbruck.

Kufstein is famous for its fortress overlooking the city which is accessed by a funicular.

The fortress has no interior, but the interesting feature is that in his yard and its wall was set a little Christmas market dell'hobby. The center of Kufstein is very nice and lively, especially the Romerhofgasse, parallel to the River Inn is located where the particular gasthof, with decorated facades.

Our last stop Hall in Tirol is a beautiful village near Innsbruck. Hall has a lovely old town with some interesting buildings like the church in the main square, the Rathaus (town hall) and the tower symbol of the city. Even here in the central square, there is a tiny Christmas market, with the typical wooden houses. Lunch quickly with a hot dog and sweet purchased came in a bakery (in German back) and then we put ourselves on the way back.

Unfortunately, the return is slow due to the usual traffic on the Brenner motorway (only 2 lanes). However, even this time it was worth it and already think of the next trip Christmas.

DANI AND MAX
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texts by Daniela
Photos of Max