Hallstatt, the small Austrian village nestled between a mountain range and a lake whose name it bears, is located in the Salzkammergut region, near Salzburg. If you are in the area, it is a shame to miss it. It can be enjoyed on a day trip, starting from Salzburg, because a round trip with the car takes about 3 hours. You do not have to worry about parking, because there are 3 public car parks, within walking distance of the old town. Prices differ, obviously, depending on the time of stay: 6.5 euros (maximum 2 hours) and 0.5 euros/hour (between 12 and 24 hours).

By car from Vienna, you will arrive in about three and a half hours. The time is running out fast, because, kilometer by kilometer, you discover a land with rich pastures, in which the noise of the cowbells awakens to life the enchanted landscape. At the entrance you will meet the lake where you can see the daring peaks.

A funicular railway will attract your attention as soon as you walk into the town. This leads to a salt mine. The round trip with the funicular and the access inside costs 34 Euro/person. The time required is approximately 3 hours. Prized as gold, once the currency of exchange, salt brought prosperity to the locality.

Certainly, as you roam the streets lined with multicolored flowers, you will feel discreet aromas. The alpine houses, dating from the 16th century, on which apple trees with riped fruit-bearing are climbing, make Hallstatt a fairytale village, which you can hardly separate. Do not resist the temptation to buy salt with different flavors or objects made with scrupulosity in the workshops that take place among the shops with souvenirs or natural products.

It is impossible not to stop in the market from the heart of the village, in the center of which is the Statue of the Holy Trinity, raised around 1743. Here the Christmas and Easter fairs are taking place. Beside, the church, built in the eighteenth century, is one of the most famous landmarks.

Stylish cafes, where traditional cakes make you smile from the dishes, make you forget for a moment that you are on a diet.

If you want to take advantage of the afternoons not burdened with tasks and worries, sit on a terrace! The carefully prepared dishes speak to you about the luxury of simplicity: traditional sausages (wurst) with quality cabbage, Viennese schnitzel, apple strudel. Besides, locals dressed in traditional clothes will keep you company. Admire the dirndl-the dress worn with pride, while the fanfare echoes nearby.

It is a must to find an accommodation. In the surroundings, many private households offer rooms at reasonable prices, in comfortable conditions, with a quality and generous breakfast, so if you have not been able to make an early reservation, you have the opportunity to see the Austrians at their home. You will be surprised, perhaps, to find that they are very friendly hosts, who will provide different useful addresses, from good restaurants to unmissable attractions.

In a September with aromas and colors, in one of the parking lots in the heart of Hallstatt, I deepened the lesson of generosity: in a bag hanging neatly by the car mirror, I had to find a forgotten dress in a room at 5 km from where we are. I realized, once again, that making a gesture without waiting for something in return is one of the hottest and wonderful experiences.

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