TRAVEL / Churches and Cherubs: OTHER BAROQUE CITIES

AUSTRIA: SALZBURG

From the main street or Getreidegasse to the Dom cathedral (Solari, 1614-55) and churches such as the Holy Trinity (Fischer Von Erlach, 1694-1702), through to the fountains of the Residenzplatz and Mirabell gardens (Fischer Von Erlach), this city is home to some of the finest examples of baroque architecture.

BRAZIL: OURO PRETO

Capital of the Mina Gerais (general mines) region at the height of the gold rush, this vila rica (rich village), as it is known, is full of the most grandiose baroque imaginable.

FRANCE: VERSAILLES

The city of Versailles was built along an axis which runs from the centre of the palace, converging on the town and gardens, to form a unit of French baroque genius.

GERMANY: WURZBURG

Among such treasures as the apothecary shop and Petrini's garden wing in the Prince's Palace (1699), there is Greising's Pavilion behind the park (1714) and Petrini's twin-spired Stift Haug church (1670-91). The most famous baroque masterpiece of all, however, is Balthasar Neumann's 'Residenz' (1719-44).

HUNGARY: SZENTENDRE

This is a city filled with baroque churches and atmosphere. Szentendre's Serbian orthodox church and Greek orthodox cathedral are of particular interest.

ITALY: VATICAN CITY, ROME

Bernini, architect of the Vatican for more than 50 years, beautified and enriched this palace of the Popes so prodigiously that he became known as the master of baroque.

MEXICO: OAXACA

Dominican friars were chiefly responsible for the building of an impressive colonial city in which there were 160 churches by 1575. Among the baroque architecture that remains today is a brilliantly decorated monastery and, of course, plenty of churches.

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