Latest news with #DaleChihuly
CTV News
15-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
How this Boston physics student became one of Murano's youngest master glassmakers
Born in the Italian town of Brescia, Roberto Beltrami grew up just a few hours' drive from Venice and the island of Murano, world-famous for producing beautiful glassware. But it was nearly 4,000 miles away in Boston, Massachusetts, that he first came across the art of glassblowing. 'I was just so struck by this material, the colours, the transparency, the shapes,' recalled Beltrami. It was 2011, and Beltrami, then a sophomore physics student at Boston University, was captivated by an exhibition of the work of American artist Dale Chihuly. Known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary glassblowing, Chihuly's pursuit of his craft has taken him around the globe, including a stint in Murano in the 1960s. Beltrami visited the island on his summer break, taking up a class in glass blowing. That class turned into an apprenticeship, and the summer turned into a year. Beltrami quit university, trading lecture halls for roaring furnaces, sweating it out in centuries-old workshops, and studying under some of the world's most renowned glassblowing masters. At one time, Murano was the global leader in glassmaking, renowned for unparalleled quality, style, and innovation, including the invention of 'cristallo,' clear glass. But over its 700-year glassblowing history, Murano has faced numerous challenges, and in recent years, the number of factories has plummeted. While many in the industry say that young people are disinterested in pursuing hot, hard manual labor, Beltrami has a different perspective. With a long legacy of closely guarding their trade secrets, workshops in Murano are reluctant to welcome newcomers, said Beltrami, 34. 'Everybody was afraid you were going to steal their job, and nobody wanted to teach you anything.' 'It was really nightmarish, having this passion for this material, and then you can't really learn anything,' he added. Murano glass Colourful Murano glass beads for sale in Venice. (Paul Biris/via CNN Newsource) Frustrated by the lack of opportunities, Beltrami decided to strike out on his own. In 2017, the then-25-year-old started his own workshop, Wave Murano Glass. Now with a team of 20, many of them in their twenties and thirties, Beltrami — believed to be the youngest glass master in Murano — is ushering in a new generation of artisans. 'We're not all under the age of 35 but the average age is definitely under 35 — which is unheard of in Murano,' said Beltrami. A millennium of glassmaking Glass is formed by melting sand, soda ash and limestone at temperatures of up to 1,600 degrees Celsius (2,912 degrees Fahrenheit). With a texture similar to treacle, the molten glass mixture is held on the end of a hollow pipe, inflated with air, and then shaped swiftly by swinging, blowing, and rolling while the material is still hot and pliable. Once cooled, it takes on a hard, transparent form. In Venice, glass has been manufactured for over 1,000 years. To prevent fires from the hot furnaces and keep trade secrets from escaping the city, all the glass factories were moved to Murano in 1291, where they've remained since. In addition to the invention of cristallo, Murano became well-known for its ability to add vibrant colour to clear glass. Roberto Beltrami Roberto Beltrami, pictured, is one of the youngest Murano glass masters, founding his workshop when he was just 25 years old. (Wave Murano Glass via CNN Newsource) 'It's not so easy to have different colours of glass together and have them match chemically,' said Beltrami, explaining that each shade uses a unique element — such as cobalt for purple-blue, lead for pale yellow, or tellurium for a pink tint — which expand and contract at different rates when they heat and cool. 'Being able to melt all these colours and have them match chemically so a piece doesn't break at the end was one of the biggest strengths of Murano glass,' Beltrami added. A self-confessed pyromaniac who unwittingly torched a sofa before he could walk, Beltrami says glass blowing combines his love of fire with his passion for making things and working with people. 'Glass blowing is kind of like a team sport, because it's very physical, very intense. You need to work in a team because you can barely do anything by yourself,' he said. The size and weight of many of the glass objects require at least one person to hold the pipe and turn the molten glass, while another shapes it, and another person may be required to torch the glass to keep it pliable, or add embellishments. 'It's like a choreography,' Beltrami added. Making waves At its peak in the 16th century, more than 30,000 people were living on the 1.7-square-mile (4.6-square-kilometre) island of Murano. Now, it is home to around 4,000 people. According to Consorzio Promovetro Murano, a trade consortium that promotes and protects Murano glass, less than a third of them work at the island's 105 glass-making workshops. The small factories struggle to compete on large-scale industrial orders, said Beltrami. Murano instead focuses on luxury and artistic glassware, although that too has been threatened by an influx of counterfeit goods: according to Consorzio Promovetro Murano, cheap imitation products are common in Venice's souvenir stores. Not only do they divert profits from local glassmakers, but they also risk damaging the reputation of Murano glass. The industry has been further impacted by a series of crises, including the financial crash of 2008, the Covid-19 pandemic, and rising gas prices. But despite the challenges, Beltrami is optimistic about the future of the craft. A major problem he saw across the factories he worked in previously was antiquated equipment and inefficient processes. So, at Wave Murano Glass, he introduced a variety of modern technologies, including streamlining administrative workflows with AI-enabled software and introducing more energy-efficient furnaces. Designed in the US, these furnaces capture heat that is typically lost via exhaust fumes and reuse it to preheat the air going into the burner, reducing gas usage by 80% compared to furnaces of a similar size, said Beltrami. Murano glass Beltrami sketches an idea for a glass vase at his workshop in Murano. (Wave Murano Glass via CNN Newsource) According to Beltrami, Murano's factories have historically worked on small-scale industrial orders, with many rejecting commissions of less than a few hundred but unable to cater for those of a few thousand. Seeing a missed opportunity, he set up his furnaces to be flexible, allowing Wave to cover anything from one-off pieces, to a few dozen, up to 1,200 pieces. While the bulk of Wave's output is white label products for brands, designers, and artists, up to 10% of the company's turnover comes from classes and tours, which Beltrami hopes can share the art of glass blowing with a wider audience. His efforts have already paid off. Beltrami has made a point of offering internships to young, enthusiastic talent from around the globe, many of whom are now employed at Wave, including several women, who are underrepresented in the industry. For Beltrami, finding new talent is an essential step in preserving the craft he's come to love — and continuing its legacy of artistry and innovation. 'The craftsmanship, the tradition of over a thousand years of history, all make it very special,' he added. Written by Rebecca Cairns, CNN
CNN
14-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
How this Boston physics student became one of Murano's youngest master glassmakers
Born in the Italian town of Brescia, Roberto Beltrami grew up just a few hours' drive from Venice and the island of Murano, world-famous for producing beautiful glassware. But it was nearly 4,000 miles away in Boston, Massachusetts, that he first came across the art of glassblowing. 'I was just so struck by this material, the colors, the transparency, the shapes,' recalled Beltrami. It was 2011, and Beltrami, then a sophomore physics student at Boston University, was captivated by an exhibition of the work of American artist Dale Chihuly. Known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary glassblowing, Chihuly's pursuit of his craft has taken him around the globe, including a stint in Murano in the 1960s. Beltrami visited the island on his summer break, taking up a class in glass blowing. That class turned into an apprenticeship, and the summer turned into a year. Beltrami quit university, trading lecture halls for roaring furnaces, sweating it out in centuries-old workshops, and studying under some of the world's most renowned glassblowing masters. At one time, Murano was the global leader in glassmaking, renowned for unparalleled quality, style, and innovation, including the invention of 'cristallo,' clear glass. But over its 700-year glassblowing history, Murano has faced numerous challenges, and in recent years, the number of factories has plummeted. While many in the industry say that young people are disinterested in pursuing hot, hard manual labor, Beltrami has a different perspective. With a long legacy of closely guarding their trade secrets, workshops in Murano are reluctant to welcome newcomers, said Beltrami, 34. 'Everybody was afraid you were going to steal their job, and nobody wanted to teach you anything.' 'It was really nightmarish, having this passion for this material, and then you can't really learn anything,' he added. Frustrated by the lack of opportunities, Beltrami decided to strike out on his own. In 2017, the then-25-year-old started his own workshop, Wave Murano Glass. Now with a team of 20, many of them in their twenties and thirties, Beltrami — believed to be the youngest glass master in Murano — is ushering in a new generation of artisans. 'We're not all under the age of 35 but the average age is definitely under 35 — which is unheard of in Murano,' said Beltrami. Glass is formed by melting sand, soda ash and limestone at temperatures of up to 1,600 degrees Celsius (2,912 degrees Fahrenheit). With a texture similar to treacle, the molten glass mixture is held on the end of a hollow pipe, inflated with air, and then shaped swiftly by swinging, blowing, and rolling while the material is still hot and pliable. Once cooled, it takes on a hard, transparent form. In Venice, glass has been manufactured for over 1,000 years. To prevent fires from the hot furnaces and keep trade secrets from escaping the city, all the glass factories were moved to Murano in 1291, where they've remained since. In addition to the invention of cristallo, Murano became well-known for its ability to add vibrant color to clear glass. 'It's not so easy to have different colors of glass together and have them match chemically,' said Beltrami, explaining that each shade uses a unique element — such as cobalt for purple-blue, lead for pale yellow, or tellurium for a pink tint — which expand and contract at different rates when they heat and cool. 'Being able to melt all these colors and have them match chemically so a piece doesn't break at the end was one of the biggest strengths of Murano glass,' Beltrami added. A self-confessed pyromaniac who unwittingly torched a sofa before he could walk, Beltrami says glass blowing combines his love of fire with his passion for making things and working with people. 'Glass blowing is kind of like a team sport, because it's very physical, very intense. You need to work in a team because you can barely do anything by yourself,' he said. The size and weight of many of the glass objects require at least one person to hold the pipe and turn the molten glass, while another shapes it, and another person may be required to torch the glass to keep it pliable, or add embellishments. 'It's like a choreography,' Beltrami added. At its peak in the 16th century, more than 30,000 people were living on the 1.7-square-mile (4.6-square-kilometer) island of Murano. Now, it is home to around 4,000 people. According to Consorzio Promovetro Murano, a trade consortium that promotes and protects Murano glass, less than a third of them work at the island's 105 glass-making workshops. The small factories struggle to compete on large-scale industrial orders, said Beltrami. Murano instead focuses on luxury and artistic glassware, although that too has been threatened by an influx of counterfeit goods: according to Consorzio Promovetro Murano, cheap imitation products are common in Venice's souvenir stores. Not only do they divert profits from local glassmakers, but they also risk damaging the reputation of Murano glass. The industry has been further impacted by a series of crises, including the financial crash of 2008, the Covid-19 pandemic, and rising gas prices. But despite the challenges, Beltrami is optimistic about the future of the craft. A major problem he saw across the factories he worked in previously was antiquated equipment and inefficient processes. So, at Wave Murano Glass, he introduced a variety of modern technologies, including streamlining administrative workflows with AI-enabled software and introducing more energy-efficient furnaces. Designed in the US, these furnaces capture heat that is typically lost via exhaust fumes and reuse it to preheat the air going into the burner, reducing gas usage by 80% compared to furnaces of a similar size, said Beltrami. According to Beltrami, Murano's factories have historically worked on small-scale industrial orders, with many rejecting commissions of less than a few hundred but unable to cater for those of a few thousand. Seeing a missed opportunity, he set up his furnaces to be flexible, allowing Wave to cover anything from one-off pieces, to a few dozen, up to 1,200 pieces. While the bulk of Wave's output is white label products for brands, designers, and artists, up to 10% of the company's turnover comes from classes and tours, which Beltrami hopes can share the art of glass blowing with a wider audience. His efforts have already paid off. Beltrami has made a point of offering internships to young, enthusiastic talent from around the globe, many of whom are now employed at Wave, including several women, who are underrepresented in the industry. For Beltrami, finding new talent is an essential step in preserving the craft he's come to love — and continuing its legacy of artistry and innovation. 'The craftsmanship, the tradition of over a thousand years of history, all make it very special,' he added.
CNN
14-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
How this Boston physics student became one of Murano's youngest master glassmakers
Born in the Italian town of Brescia, Roberto Beltrami grew up just a few hours' drive from Venice and the island of Murano, world-famous for producing beautiful glassware. But it was nearly 4,000 miles away in Boston, Massachusetts, that he first came across the art of glassblowing. 'I was just so struck by this material, the colors, the transparency, the shapes,' recalled Beltrami. It was 2011, and Beltrami, then a sophomore physics student at Boston University, was captivated by an exhibition of the work of American artist Dale Chihuly. Known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary glassblowing, Chihuly's pursuit of his craft has taken him around the globe, including a stint in Murano in the 1960s. Beltrami visited the island on his summer break, taking up a class in glass blowing. That class turned into an apprenticeship, and the summer turned into a year. Beltrami quit university, trading lecture halls for roaring furnaces, sweating it out in centuries-old workshops, and studying under some of the world's most renowned glassblowing masters. At one time, Murano was the global leader in glassmaking, renowned for unparalleled quality, style, and innovation, including the invention of 'cristallo,' clear glass. But over its 700-year glassblowing history, Murano has faced numerous challenges, and in recent years, the number of factories has plummeted. While many in the industry say that young people are disinterested in pursuing hot, hard manual labor, Beltrami has a different perspective. With a long legacy of closely guarding their trade secrets, workshops in Murano are reluctant to welcome newcomers, said Beltrami, 34. 'Everybody was afraid you were going to steal their job, and nobody wanted to teach you anything.' 'It was really nightmarish, having this passion for this material, and then you can't really learn anything,' he added. Frustrated by the lack of opportunities, Beltrami decided to strike out on his own. In 2017, the then-25-year-old started his own workshop, Wave Murano Glass. Now with a team of 20, many of them in their twenties and thirties, Beltrami — believed to be the youngest glass master in Murano — is ushering in a new generation of artisans. 'We're not all under the age of 35 but the average age is definitely under 35 — which is unheard of in Murano,' said Beltrami. Glass is formed by melting sand, soda ash and limestone at temperatures of up to 1,600 degrees Celsius (2,912 degrees Fahrenheit). With a texture similar to treacle, the molten glass mixture is held on the end of a hollow pipe, inflated with air, and then shaped swiftly by swinging, blowing, and rolling while the material is still hot and pliable. Once cooled, it takes on a hard, transparent form. In Venice, glass has been manufactured for over 1,000 years. To prevent fires from the hot furnaces and keep trade secrets from escaping the city, all the glass factories were moved to Murano in 1291, where they've remained since. In addition to the invention of cristallo, Murano became well-known for its ability to add vibrant color to clear glass. 'It's not so easy to have different colors of glass together and have them match chemically,' said Beltrami, explaining that each shade uses a unique element — such as cobalt for purple-blue, lead for pale yellow, or tellurium for a pink tint — which expand and contract at different rates when they heat and cool. 'Being able to melt all these colors and have them match chemically so a piece doesn't break at the end was one of the biggest strengths of Murano glass,' Beltrami added. A self-confessed pyromaniac who unwittingly torched a sofa before he could walk, Beltrami says glass blowing combines his love of fire with his passion for making things and working with people. 'Glass blowing is kind of like a team sport, because it's very physical, very intense. You need to work in a team because you can barely do anything by yourself,' he said. The size and weight of many of the glass objects require at least one person to hold the pipe and turn the molten glass, while another shapes it, and another person may be required to torch the glass to keep it pliable, or add embellishments. 'It's like a choreography,' Beltrami added. At its peak in the 16th century, more than 30,000 people were living on the 1.7-square-mile (4.6-square-kilometer) island of Murano. Now, it is home to around 4,000 people. According to Consorzio Promovetro Murano, a trade consortium that promotes and protects Murano glass, less than a third of them work at the island's 105 glass-making workshops. The small factories struggle to compete on large-scale industrial orders, said Beltrami. Murano instead focuses on luxury and artistic glassware, although that too has been threatened by an influx of counterfeit goods: according to Consorzio Promovetro Murano, cheap imitation products are common in Venice's souvenir stores. Not only do they divert profits from local glassmakers, but they also risk damaging the reputation of Murano glass. The industry has been further impacted by a series of crises, including the financial crash of 2008, the Covid-19 pandemic, and rising gas prices. But despite the challenges, Beltrami is optimistic about the future of the craft. A major problem he saw across the factories he worked in previously was antiquated equipment and inefficient processes. So, at Wave Murano Glass, he introduced a variety of modern technologies, including streamlining administrative workflows with AI-enabled software and introducing more energy-efficient furnaces. Designed in the US, these furnaces capture heat that is typically lost via exhaust fumes and reuse it to preheat the air going into the burner, reducing gas usage by 80% compared to furnaces of a similar size, said Beltrami. According to Beltrami, Murano's factories have historically worked on small-scale industrial orders, with many rejecting commissions of less than a few hundred but unable to cater for those of a few thousand. Seeing a missed opportunity, he set up his furnaces to be flexible, allowing Wave to cover anything from one-off pieces, to a few dozen, up to 1,200 pieces. While the bulk of Wave's output is white label products for brands, designers, and artists, up to 10% of the company's turnover comes from classes and tours, which Beltrami hopes can share the art of glass blowing with a wider audience. His efforts have already paid off. Beltrami has made a point of offering internships to young, enthusiastic talent from around the globe, many of whom are now employed at Wave, including several women, who are underrepresented in the industry. For Beltrami, finding new talent is an essential step in preserving the craft he's come to love — and continuing its legacy of artistry and innovation. 'The craftsmanship, the tradition of over a thousand years of history, all make it very special,' he added.
Times
06-05-2025
- Times
Atlantis The Palm hotel review: a Dubai palace with entertainment for the whole family
With 1,544 rooms, the world's largest waterpark, an aquarium and 35 restaurants and bars, Atlantis The Palm is as extra as it gets: its own self-contained world on the crescent that surrounds Dubai's Palm Jumeirah. The hotel dazzles from every angle — from its soaring salmon-pink façade to the towering Dale Chihuly glass sculpture in the lobby, the carved nautiluses in the corridors and the intricate frescoes of Greek mythology, sea urchins and scallop shells that adorn the walls and ceilings. Since 2008, when it was the first resort to open on the Palm, the hotel has drawn families from around the world with its mix of action, adventure and fun. There are few hotels in the world that can keep so many age groups entertained on so many levels, but do bear in mind this is very much a place for families. If you're looking for a couple's escape, head to Atlantis The Royal next door. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Score 8/10Considering the thousands of suitcases dragged through the corridors and the millions of flip-flops traipsing from beach to bedroom each year, the rooms — and the entire hotel, for that matter — are pristine. The gleaming marble is completely unscratched, and there's not a single grain of sand nor a drip from a wet swimsuit on a floor anywhere. The upkeep is a Herculean task managed diligently by a team of housekeepers who are constantly sweeping and tidying. Compared to how OTT the rest of the resort is, the guest rooms here are fairly subtle, filled with light and with far-reaching views of the Palm or the Gulf. The marine theme is embraced in sand and turquoise colour schemes, coral-shaped wall art and plush carpets. At 45 sq m, the smallest rooms can easily accommodate a family, and there are plenty of connecting rooms for larger families to spread out. All rooms have outdoor access, ranging from Juliet balconies to larger areas with space to sit. But the real wows are reserved for the suites, in particular the two underwater suites. They're built into the walls of the aquarium, so you can watch sharks and rays glide past your bed and bathtub. A word of caution on the in-room minibars — remove something for more than a minute and it'll be added to your bill 9/10 Atlantis The Palm's 35 dining options include family-friendly buffets; casual spots for noodles and shawarma, and fine-dining options for proper grown-up nights out (nanny services are available for those wanting a child-free dinner). Standouts include the predictable but inevitably delicious black cod miso at sky-high Nobu, located in the bridge above the hotel's central arch; and imaginative tasting menus featuring seafood at Michelin-star Ossiano, within the aquarium. Family favourite Wave House is a shorts and flip-flops kind of place where burgers and milkshakes are served alongside a surfing pool, bowling alley and arcade games. And you can tuck into truffle taramasalata, crispy eggplant mille-feuille and Alaskan king crab tacos at Mykonos-style beach club White, an adults-only venue with two waterside infinity pools. During holiday periods the hotel gets very busy, and the queue for breakfast at Saffron can be maddening. Persevere and you're rewarded with an almost overwhelming selection of Arabic, Sri Lankan, Chinese and Indian dishes cooked to order, eggs, towering displays of pastries and a bloody mary and mimosa station to take the edge off it all. • Best hotels in Dubai• Best restaurants in Dubai Score 10/10Entry to the onsite Aquaventure waterpark, packed full of waterslides, rapids and wave pools, is free for hotel guests, as is the Lost Chambers aquarium, home to 65,000 marine creatures. The tethered Dubai Balloon rises 300m above the resort for 360-degree views, and the ultra-luxe Atlantis The Royal, with 17 high-end restaurants including a beach club by Nobu Matsuhisa, is a buggy ride away along the beach. Atlantis revolves around families, and there are family pools, playgrounds, a long beach (be careful of jellyfish here), and opportunities to send children off for a few hours to the kids' and teens' clubs, or on the educational marine biologist programme. There's a mini shopping mall in the Avenues where you can pick up a Rolex, Vilebrequin swimwear, beach essentials and kitsch souvenirs like genie lamps and sparkle-covered Burj Al Arab statues. And when it all gets a bit much, the Awaken Spa offers an escape with reiki, chakra balancing and hypno-healing sessions. Score 8/10Many guests are perfectly happy never stepping outside the self-contained world of Atlantis, but if you've come to embark on some Dubai sightseeing, you need to make a little effort to get off the Palm — although nowhere is very far in this city. The Burj Khalifa and the Museum of the Future are around 20 minutes away by taxi. The huge Mall of the Emirates, home to an indoor ski slope, is less than 20 minutes away, and the more manageable Nakheel Mall, in the middle of the Palm's trunk, has a good selection of high street stores and supermarkets. Hop on the Palm Monorail from Atlantis Aquaventure and you'll be there in four minutes. Dubai International Airport is half an hour away by car. Price B&B doubles from £290Restaurant mains from£18Family-friendly YAccessible Y Nicola Chilton was a guest of Atlantis the Palm • Best serviced apartments in Dubai• Best spa hotels in Dubai
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
10 of the best hotels in Salzburg, Austria
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). The most Austrian of cities, Salzburg is an instant heart-stealer. It's backdropped by the Mönchsberg, a mount rising like a gentle giant above the old town's alleys and abbeys, plazas and palaces. Topping it is a 900-year-old fortress straight out of a kids' story, while the mountains on the horizon remind you that the Alps are but a yodel away. The hotel scene mirrors the city itself: petite, characterful and surprisingly varied, skipping from revamped medieval inns to affordable palace stays. If you're visiting, book now: in 2025, Salzburg will celebrate 60 years of The Sound of Music with performances, exhibitions and tours of filming locations. Best for romanticsThis 16th-century castle hotel is so romantic, you half expect a Disney princess to waft out of the door. Perched atop Mönchsberg, it surveys Salzburg from on high, the baroque city unfurling below and the snow-dusted Alps etched on the horizon. The building is powder-puff pink and whimsically turreted, and rooms are modern-classic, with parquet floors, champagne and cream tones, chandeliers, re-upholstered antiques and the occasional hint of ruby red. There's a sense of leaving the city behind here, whether you're drifting in the spa's outdoor infinity pool or wandering the castle's prettily wooded parkland. The clincher is the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant, Glass Garden. Centred around a hand-blown glass sculpture by American artist Dale Chihuly and topped by a striking glass-vaulted ceiling, it serves season-led tasting menus featuring the likes of dove breast with pumpkin and Périgord truffle. Rooms: From €414 (£345), B&B. Best for The Sound of Music nostalgiaThis rococo palace is spread across 17 acres of parkland, with knockout views of the mountains and 900-year-old Hohensalzburg fortress on Mönchsberg. If you love The Sound of Music, you might recognise the setting — the rowboat scene, where the von Trapp kids tumble into the lake, was filmed here. Pick between 12 suites in the main palace, with high ceilings, antique furniture and the finest views of the gardens; or smart, modern — and cheaper — rooms in a revamped 300-year-old annex. The perks are the same: lavish breakfasts, walks in the grounds and access to a magnificent baroque library — plus free bike rental and entry to the adjacent public lido. Rooms: From €162 (£135), B&B. Best for old-school luxuryThink Sacher and you might picture the namesake torte, believed to have been invented by confectioner Franz Sacher in 1832 for Viennese royalty. This grand hotel, part of an Austrian hospitality group founded by Franz's son, hits the sweet spot, too. Every cream-panelled, chandelier-lit room comes with the trimmings expected of five-star digs — gilt-framed oil paintings, antiques and sparkling marble bathrooms — but blow the budget on a signature suite for fortress views. You're in good company: Julie Andrews, the Dalai Lama and Tom Hanks top the list of famous past guests. A smart grill restaurant, opulent cafe and health club with sauna, fitness centre and treatments are the icing on the rich chocolate cake. Rooms: From €315 (£260). Best for restful breaksBirds twitter and fountains splash in the vine-draped gardens of this villa hotel. It's just a 10-minute toddle from baroque Schloss Mirabell, where Maria teaches the von Trapp kids to sing Do-Re-Mi in The Sound of Music, and the banks of the Salzach, the fast-flowing river that cuts through the city. Yet, it feels like an escape. If the weather's fine, breakfast is served on the terrace — and what a breakfast it is. With honey from the hotel's own hives, homemade spreads and preserves, flavourful porridge (with raisins and spices like cardamom and cinnamon) and fresh-pressed juices, it's how every day should begin. The mood is mellow here, from the warm-toned, wood-floored rooms to the spa, offering a Finnish sauna, massages, morning yoga and a terrace peeking above the rooftops and wooded hills. Rooms: From €150 (£125). Best for river & city viewsOn the banks of the Salzach, this adults-only address has dress-circle views of the UNESCO-listed Altstadt (old town) and Hohensalzburg fortress — the sort of panorama you often pay handsomely for. Dodge high season, however, and it comes with a budget price tag. It's one of Salzburg's oldest inns, but the late 14th-century bones underpin chic, modern rooms. Crisp white bedding and clean lines are enlivened by pops of cobalt blue, Venetian glass chandeliers and large-scale, black-and-white murals of historic landmarks. There's also a bijou spa and a city-facing rooftop restaurant and bar, Steinterrasse, for dishes from dim sum to pasta with truffle. Rooms: From €128 (£105). Best for urban vibesMost Salzburg hotels have historic settings, but this 15-floor option is refreshingly modern — one of few high-rises in a low-lying city. The rooms reference Scandi-style minimalism, from the monochrome tones to the clever backlighting, and the glass walls frame a panorama that reaches the Alps — executive ones have freestanding tubs to enjoy it while relaxing with Rituals toiletries. Even better, head to the top-floor Sky Bar restaurant or the roof terrace, which opens in the summer and has 360-degree views. Rooms: From €108 (£90). Best for art & designSet inside a building that's operated as an inn since 1350, this boutique hotel has stepped from historic to cool without missing a beat. The 34 rooms are big on character, with hardwood floors, one-of-a-kind art on stone walls and bathrooms with souvenir bath ducks. There's a library for browsing design books, a terrace to sip summer aperitifs and a glass atrium overlooking the kitchen herb garden. The restaurant riffs on regional produce in dishes like saddle of venison with spruce crust and buckthorn jus. Rooms: From €179 (£150). Best for medieval historyIn the historic heart, Goldgasse is a lane where gold and silversmiths plied their trade in the Middle Ages. Here, a minute's walk from the Residenz palace and domed cathedral, you'll find this hotel inside a 14th-century townhouse. It preserves original features, including thick, limewashed walls and heavy wood beams, which are given pride of place in 15 pared-back rooms. Street-facing ones are within earshot of church bells but may come with evening noise; for more peace, opt for the courtyard side. Rooms: From €199 (£165), B&B. Best for Mozart fansWedged in among the townhouses on Linzer Gasse, Salzburg's main pedestrian thoroughfare, this boutique hotel pays tribute to the city's prodigal son. It's right next to St Sebastian's Cemetery, where Mozart's father, Leopold, and wife, Constanze, are buried, and less than a 10-minute walk from both his birthplace and later residence, now popular museums. The river and Schloss Mirabell are just a stroll away, too. It's set in a restored 500-year-old building, and the interiors combine stone vaults and reupholstered antiques with pops of crisp colour, like velvet armchairs in sapphire blue or emerald. The large-scale prints on the walls were created by artists from the Brera Fine Arts Academy in Milan, where Mozart stayed during his first trip to Italy in the 18th century. Rooms: From €113 (£95). Best for opera enthusiastsDuck down a back alley in Salzburg's medieval core to find this 700-year-old building, which interweaves historic flair with contemporary style. Its 16 rooms and suites contrast original stucco, beams and flagstones with flamboyant, hand-blown glass chandeliers and SMEG fridges stocked with free drinks. Each room has giant prints of operas from the Salzburg Festival, on for five weeks each summer; to experience the real thing, the Great Festival Hall, host to many performances, is but a five-minute walk away. Downstairs, Gasthof Goldgasse is an inn in the traditional Austrian mould: vaulted, pine-clad and full of chatter. Snag a table for a multi-tiered breakfast feast of homemade bircher muesli, fresh-baked pastries, Alpine ham and cheeses. You can also book dinner for classics from schnitzel to a perfectly flaky strudel. Rooms: From €160 (£135). Published in the March 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
