Hall in Tirol is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region thanks to its delightful old town with charming narrow streets and a beautiful Christmas market. A stroll through the medieval town centre is somewhat reminiscent of small Italian towns, with great attention to detail evident in many places.Its long history dates back to the 13th century, when Hall in Tirol became an important trading town thanks to salt mining in the nearby mountains. This is also reflected in the town's coat of arms, which to this day depicts two lions with a barrel of salt.Later – when silver and copper mining began in the nearby town of Schwaz in the 15th century – the mint was moved from Merano in South Tirol to Hall and the town became the Mint of Tirol. During this time, Hall was one of the most important cities in the Habsburg Empire.