Zachary Gaber

This church surprised me. I'd seen a few photos but they hadn't prepared me for how spectacular the place is. The vivid white stucco walls are broken up by fresco panels that are inset like jewels. It's like nothing else I've encountered before. It really does succeed at what I think is one of the primary aims of church architecture: creating a space where you really can feel the divine (whether or not you believe in it).

Truly a stunning place. The polychrome stone gives this place a unique colour palette and the glint of gold on so many surfaces produces a remarkably breath-taking atmosphere. Definitely one of those places that exhausts one's supply of superlatives. There were no lines or crowds when I went (weekday, off-peak season); I hope your luck is as good.

One of the highlights of Salzburg, the cathedral is glorious although not quite in the highest tier of Catholic cathedrals. Never the less, if you're in Salzburg there is absolutely no excuse not to visit and spend the better part of an hour taking in the neoclassical splendour. The line for entry can get rather long - I popped into the nearby Franziskanerkirche for a while and came back a half hour later and it was shorter. Still, I doubt you're going to get in without some line.