Salzburg Cathedral

Overview

Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom) is a monumental Baroque church on Domplatz, built between 1614 and 1628 by Italian architect Santino Solari. Its twin towers and 79-meter dome define the Altstadt skyline. Mozart was baptized here on 28 January 1756.

Highlights

• Baptismal Font: The Romanesque bronze font (1321) where Mozart was christened.
• Dome Frescoes: Elaborate ceiling paintings depicting the Passion of Christ by Arsenio Mascagni.
• Three Bronze Doors: Representing Faith, Hope, and Charity, added in 1957–58 by Giacomo Manzù, Ewald Mataré, and Toni Schneider-Manzell.

History

The first cathedral on this site was consecrated in 774. After fires in 1167 and 1598, Archbishop Wolf Dietrich commissioned a complete rebuild in Italian Baroque style. Bomb damage in 1944 destroyed the dome, which was restored by 1959.

Visitor Tips

• Free admission to the nave; museum and excavations require a DomQuartier ticket.
• Organ concerts during summer festival season.
• Duration: 30–45 minutes.