Mozart traveled the length and breadth of Europe, performing for kings and queens, popes and cardinals, meeting poets and other great musicians, frittering away his money, not finding work, making enemies and writing wonderful music.
Now, some 230 years later, you can follow in his footsteps: Salzburg province has drawn up itineraries of his 18 journeys to 200 towns in 10 countries. The Web site of the route has a calendar of concerts and a guided tour of sites that offers visitors a tailor-made Mozart musical break.
The Mozart Route is one of several similar itineraries that have been awarded the Council of Europe’s “Major Cultural Route” label, which rewards initiatives that promote Europe’s cultural heritage. The idea is to look at Europe’s map with a fresh eye by focusing on themes. A cultural route based on French romantic novelist Alexandre Dumas’s voyages in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia is in the works, as is a route of wine landscapes.
From the Wall Street Journal; excerpts, edited by Ellopos Blog
