Golden Roof and Old Town
Innsbruck, Austria
The Golden Roof projects above the old-town street beneath 2,657 gilded copper shingles. Commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I around 1500, the decorated oriel rewards a closer look at its frescoes and carved reliefs as well as the familiar photograph from below. The exterior reliefs are copies, with several originals preserved in the museum. Combine the landmark with a slow walk through the surrounding lanes, where the narrow streets make its sudden appearance especially effective.