Surreal Alps

IMG_6388, originally uploaded by bratislavadavis.

26-08-07

II began the day by roaming around the old town. The Helbinghaus is a beautiful white baroque structure. It was originally created as a Gothic town house in the 15th century, but was converted into its present-day baroque structure by Wessobrunner School designers. It is now a residential and office building.

The Ottoburg-Goldener Adler is a present-day hotel and restaurant, but the Gothic building was originally a residential tower that dates back to 1494. There is a memorial plaque in front of the restaurant dedicated to the Tyrolean freedom fighters that died in 1809. The Dom Zu St. Jakob church is a beautiful Baroque church constructed in the first quarter of the 18th century. The tomb of Maximilian III is inside.

The Kaiserliche Hofburg is a magnificent palace built by Archduke Siegmund the Rich and Emperor Maximilian I in 1460. Empress Maria Theresa updated the palace in the mid-18th century by adding grand halls and rooms.

Nearby is the Leopoldsbrunnen- an equestrian statue of a wild mustang- the oldest depiction of its type north of the Alps. Archduke Leopold V who reigned over Tyrol from 1618 to 1632 is riding the horse.

The Landestheater hosts theater, opera, and dance performances. It was at first an opera court house in 1654, but was altered into the classical style by Segusini- a Venetian architect.

The beautiful Hofgarten is filled with buckeye trees and used to have parrots in residence. It was placed by Archduke Ferdinand II in the 16th century, but was converted into a Baroque-styled garden by Empress Maria Theresia. In the first half of the 19th century, it was adapted into a park. A horse there was extremely friendly to me and licked my arm.

The Old University goes back to 1699. The building now hosts the theology department as the campus is now in central Innsbruck. Adjacent to the Old University is the Jesuit Church- a baroque structure compiled in 1648. Inside are the crypts of Archduke Leopold V who married into the famous Medici family in Florence- thus his wife Claudia de Medici is buried there along with their children.
I saw on the map that there was a synagogue nearby so I ventured into the modern section of the city. The synagogue appears to be underground and the only indication that there was one was a Hebrew plaque.

One of the striking landmarks of Innsbruck is a high pole on a pedestal- Annasaule (St. Anne’s Column) constructed in the early 18th century by the provincial government commemorating Tyrol’s successful repelling of the Bavarians during the War of Spanish succession in 1703. There are sculptures of religious icons like Mary and saints.

The Truimphpforte is a Romanesque arc constructed in 1765 to celebrate the engagement of Leopold II to Maria Ludovica. Francis I Stephen of Lothringer- the father of Leopold II died during the festivities, thus one side exemplifies happiness while the other side portrays grief.

The Basilica Wilten and Stiftkirche Wilten are two of the earliest churches, both situated in modern Innsbruck. Basilica Wilten has been a shrine for pilgrims since the 14th century and there is a huge cemetery there. The edifice was re-constructed in 1755. Stiftkirche Wilten is a monastery that dates back to 1128. The early baroque church was built in 1655.

The highlight of my day was the Bergiselstadion- the ski jump structure that was used for the Olympics here and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies. A lift to the top gives one a gorgeous view of Innsbruck and its Alpine surroundings from the southern part of the city. Ski jumpers practice even in the summer as I saw a jumper flying.