Vienna, Austria - the City of Art

Austria is the land of many capitals - Vienna over the years has been announced as the capital of architecture, culture, music, design and creativity, fashion and many others. The majestic Alps and the extremely clean and covered Austrian towns and villages are crucial for the European civilization and culture of the past centuries. Popular tourist destinations, attracting tourists and visitors continuously with diverse interests who came on holiday or trip are the cities of Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck. There is no less interest in the ski resorts of Tyrol and the Alps.

Vienna is a beautiful and rich city. There are so many attractions so that I am wondering where to start from and who to tell for. Yet let me start with the symbol of Vienna.

1. St. Stephen's Cathedral - situated in the heart of Vienna. It was built over several centuries, beginning as it was launched by Rudolf IV on the ruins of old churches in 1359g. The cathedral was built from limestone and is 107 meters long and 40 m. The highest point is on top of a gothic tower, 136 meters. Its primary color has initially been white, but over time, air pollution and burning of the town at the end of World War II have colored the stones in black. The cathedral has 23 bells, one of which is the second largest in Europe. The interior is very beautiful with many stone sculptures and ornate columns. They overwhelm majesty, gigantic bodies and dimensions of the cathedral, which does not seem so huge when seen from outside. In one corner of St. Stephen cathedral is one of its most popular symbols. This is a carved in stone self-portrait by an unknown sculptor who participated in the construction cathedral's construction. You can climb on foot to the top of the south tower, with an elevator to the top of the north tower, or to enter the catacombs. The entrance to the cathedral is free, but the guided tours to the towers and the underground are paid. According to history, Beethoven learned that he has become completely deaf when he saw frightened birds fly from the roof of St. Stephen, but could not hear the ringing of bells.

2. Prater - The most famous attraction of the park is the Wien's wheel, where you will have an amazing view to the city. It moves very slowly, which allows shooting. Some extreme attractions include the American way, launch towers and the horror tunnels.

3. Hofburg Imperial Palace - Residence of the Hofburg dynasty for 600 years. The complex consists of many buildings in different architectural styles - from Gothic to Baroque. The life of some important historical figures took place here - Emperor Franz Josef I and Empress Elizabeth (Sissi) Maria Theresia. Here was born Marie Antoinette. The complex houses the National Library, Imperial Treasure, ethnographic museum, collections of weapons and musical instruments. On the Heldenplats square are placed statues of Karl who defeated Napoleon and of Prince Eugene of Savoy who defeated the Turks. At present, Hofburg is the residence of the Austrian President.

4. Castle Cathedral, its gardens, the Zoo - summer residence of the Hofburg dynasty. Included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage. You can see the Emperor's chambers in the castle. Here is the oldest zoo in the world, built in 1752. I'm a big fan of zoos, and anywhere I go, I usually visit one. The one here definitely worths. Located on a small area, it is very well organized and is rich of species.

5. Vienna State Opera - Who has not heard of the Vienna Opera?

World famous for its performances and its Philharmonic Orchestra. The building has been completed in 1869 and laucnhed with the opera Don Giovanni by Mozart. So far I have not had the opportunity to go to the show, but you should not miss.

6. The Twin museums - Museum of Natural History and Museum of Fine Arts - The two buildings are designed by the same architects and besides being beautiful architectural works they also contain rich collections. In the Natural History museum can be found collections collected since 250 years. There are skeletons of dinosaurs, a small figurine of 25 centuries, a giant diamond weighing 117 kg., specimens of extinct species.

7. City Hall - The building was built in Gothic style and it is the seat of the city's municipal council. The square in front of the City Hall hosts outdoor performances, Christmas Market, protest rallies, and marches.

8. Belvedere Palace - Complex of two castle with a lovely garden between them.

Here is located the museum of Austrian art. Exhibited are works by Klimt, including "The Kiss".

9. The Danube channels - about 18 km long, it is a center for sports and recreation for the Viennese.

10. Club "Planter's" - a nice bar. The design is colonial in style with leather sofas, wooden tables and bars, palm trees. It is not crowded even when full. Alcohol assortment is amazing - more than 450 types of whiskeys, cognacs and ROMs. Entire room with premium cigars. Incredible atmosphere.

There are many other attractions in Vienna that worth seeing. Walk along the Ring Strasse, Parliament, Burg Theater, anchor watch, Hundertwasser House, Karlskirhe, the Technical Museum, the statue of plague, the modern complex of buildings of the United Nations. There is never enough time to consider everything interesting in and around Vienna. Weeks may compass and find new things in this wonderful city with an aristocratic spirit.

Check for more Vienna and Austria resources in the Europe Directory.