Excursions

The festival program 2012 includes a day trip to Salzburg, a hiking tour in the Dolomites and a ride with a gondola cableway to the Alpe di Siusi/ Seiser Alm.

Salzburg

On a day trip to Salzburg, the festival community will experience the unique atmosphere of the “Hagenauer House” at Getreidegasse 9, where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born and lived until the age of 17. Maybe you will understand Mozart’s music better after you have seen his apartment, his violin, the clavichord he played, and letters of his family.

Max Reinhard once said: “The atmosphere in Salzburg is permeated with beauty, drama and art.” Prominent figures, including great composers, authors, singers, gallery owners or conductors, have left their mark on the city. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Michael Haydn, Georg Trakl, Thomas Bernhard, Stefan Zweig, Arturo Toscanini, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Maria von Trapp, Herbert von Karajan, Peter Handke and Gerard Mortier – to name but a few – significantly influenced the city’s cultural development. It is the playful lightness that makes Salzburg, the miniature metropolis, so distinctive. The enchanting silhouette of the Fortress, Cathedral and church steeples in this baroque city north of the Alps. So beautiful that it is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site. So famous that its attractions are among the most famous in the world.

Hiking tour in the Dolomites

In the leisure time between recitals, master classes, rehearsals and practicing, you will find yourself in the heart of the picturesque nature reserve Naturpark Schlern-Rosengarten. On June 26, 2009, the UNESCO Council nominated the Dolomites as a Natural World Heritage Site. This is what the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) says:

“The Dolomites display unparalleled geological, botanical and scenic qualities, which make them stand out among all the mountain ranges of the world. They especially stressed the variety of herbs and flowers that can be found here. The Dolomites feature over 2,400 types of plant and an extended Nature Reserve and National Park area (a total of approx. 142,000 ha).”
You will have an oportunity to discover the beauty of the Dolomites on a hiking tour in the mountains. Even if your fitness level is not too high you will be able to enjoy the tour.

Alpe di Siusi/ Seiser Alm

The Alpe di Siusi, the sunny side of the Dolomites, is the largest high alpine pasture and one of the most famous ski and excursion areas of Europe with its 52 km² mountain surrounded alpine pastures. The Alpe di Siusi is well-known all over the world for its colourful flowers in the summer and its glittering blanket of snow in the winter.

The ultra-modern cable railway Alpe di Siusi connects Ortisei, the main village of the Gardena Valley, with the 2000 m high Alpe di Siusi. The widest plateau of Europe and the unique view are reachable in only a few minutes and very comfortably. Here you will find a breath taking mountain scenery consisting of the Gruppo del Sella, Gruppo del Sassolungo, Catinaccio and the Sciliar surrounding the Alpe di Siusi. In summer the top station of the cable railway is an ideal starting point for walks and ambitious excursions or just a relaxing place with a beautiful view.

You won’t be able to forget the panorama expanding in front of you while rising in a gondola cableway up to the mountains.

Venice

In addition to the festival program we offer a day trip to one of Europe’s most romantic cities, Venice, on Sunday, July 22, 2012.

Founded in the 5th century and spread over 118 small islands, Venice http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/394 became a major maritime power in the 10th century. The whole city is an extraordinary architectural masterpiece in which even the smallest building contains works by some of the world’s greatest artists such as Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and others. (© UNESCO World Heritage Centre)

The day trip to Venice is optional, and will take place only if more than 35 festival participants register for it. The cost for one person is US$60. A modern comfortable bus will bring you to Venice and back to the festival location, a tour guide will help you to discover the beauty of the city.