The not to be missed attractions in Vienna
There are numerous visiting places in a city like Vienna. Here’s a list of its most popular attractions, those which in our opinion are the most representative of the great history and culture of this wonderful city.
First of all, we cannot talk about Vienna without mentioning the imperial palaces. Hofburg, near St. Stephen’s Cathedral, was the winter residence of the Habsburgs – who controlled Europe for over 600 years. It includes palaces and gardens, stables and towers, all in great architectural styles ranging from Gothic to Art Nouveau. Among other wonders, inside you will find the National Library, the Imperial Treasury, the collection of exotic butterflies and a beautiful medieval chapel, where the famous Vienna Boys’ Choir sings at Mass each Sunday from September through March.
Another major building is the baroque Belvedere Palace. Located between Rennweg and Schweizergarten in the third district of the city, this summer palace was commissioned by Prince Eugene of Savoy and is divided between the Lower Belvedere (Unteres) – which houses the Baroque Museum, once sumptuous rooms and boardrooms, the Museum of Medieval Art and the gardens – and Upper Belvedere (Oberes) – with the Museum of Military History and the Austrian Gallery, which offers an exquisite overview of Austrian art from the middle ages to the present, including the famous “The Kiss” by Klimt.
And how not to mention the Castle of Schönbrunn, once the summer residence of Austria’s imperial family, including 1441 rooms and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Don’t miss the Hall of Mirrors, where 6 years old little Mozart performed his first royal concert, and the beautiful gardens, which include the Schlosspark, the Tiergarten Zoo, and Palmenhaus – a large greenhouse built of glass and steel housing the most valuable and extensive collection of palms in all of Europe.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Stephansdom – built in 1147, is the most famous symbol of the city. The Duomo has two very impressive features: the gigantic roof and the high Gothic tower. Climbing the 343 steps of the south tower you will enjoy breathtaking views from the top.
Among the most important cultural attractions in Vienna, we should list also its museums, including one of the largest museum areas of the globe, the Museumsquartier (more than 60.000 Sq m). This is the perfect destination for a rainy day in Vienna! The excellent museums – the Museum of Modern Art, the Leopold Museum, the Kunsthalle Wien, Zoom Children’s Museum, the Architecture Center Vienna – along with the welcoming venues and coffee shops, have made it the third most popular place in Vienna.
We have wanted to save it for last, as the tangible sign of the strong cultural spirit of Vienna may remain more impressed. The same Karl Kraus also said, ‘The streets of Vienna are paved with culture, those of other cities with asphalt.’
Photo by Problemkind
About the Author
Andrea Guerriero Hi, I'm Andrea, a travel blogger, web programmer, seo apprentice and amateur photographer based in Milan. I love reading, I love music. I love to travel but only if I leave on a mission! I've been traveling through most of Europe and I love writing about it. I love photography, especially as a way to document experiences, places, events. My Nikon D300 camera is always with me, and it helps me in sharing my life with the rest of the world. Getting in touch with new people, different life styles and foreign traditions, and write about it, is all I can ask for.
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