In the city of Salzburg on the border of Germany, Austria

 "A man of ordinary talent will always be ordinary, whether he travels or not; but a man of superior talent will go to pieces if he remains forever in the same place." -- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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(in Austria) The city of Salzburg, capital of the Salzburg Bundesland (federal state), is found in a level basin on both sides of the Salzach River near the northern foothills of the Alps and the Bavarian (German) border. The historic center of the city, with its great mixture of art and architecture, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. A unique combination of scenic Alpine landscape and architectural richness has led to Salzburg’s reputation as one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Because of the building activities of its later archbishops, however, little remains of its medieval architecture, and several buildings were damaged or destroyed by fire in 1818. Its main attributes are the episcopal buildings and the burghers’ houses, displaying an Italian Renaissance and Baroque influence that earned Salzburg the designation of the “German Rome.” In the center of town, on the left bank of the Salzach, is the Residenzplatz with the archbishop’s residence, a gallery of 16th–19th century European paintings, and a large Baroque fountain. Opposite is the Residenz Neugebäude (Residence New Building; its tower contains clockwork and carillon (Glockenspiel) that was imported from Antwerp, Belgium. The 35 bells that make up the carillon range in size from 35 pounds (16 kg) to 838 pounds (380 kg) and play many pieces specially composed by Michael Haydn and by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It’s been more than 250 years since he lived here, but Mozart is still very much Salzburg’s favorite son. Visit the composer’s residence and birthplace, then explore the Altstadt (Old Town), while taking in the baroque architecture. The cathedral, or Dom, was the first church built in the Italian style on German soil, according to plans elaborated in the early 17th century. It was constructed on the site of a previous Romanesque cathedral (damaged by fire in 1598) and an earlier, 8th-century basilica. Near the Mönchsberg (Monks’ Hill), a wooded ridge overlooking the Old Town, is the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter; most of its buildings date from the 17th and 18th centuries, and its church was remodeled in the Rococo style. North of the abbey is the Franciscan Church, with a Romanesque nave, a 15th-century Gothic choir, and Baroque chapels. Crowning Monks’ Hill is the great fortress of Hohensalzburg, which served as the archbishops’ residence during the wars of the 15th and 16th centuries. Also on the hill are St. George’s Church and the Nonnberg Nunnery. Salzburg's most visible icon is its mighty, 900-year-old fortress, one of the biggest and best preserved in Europe. It is easy to spend half a day up here, roaming the ramparts for far-reaching views over the city's spires, the Salzach River, and the mountains.