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Graz, the capital city of the province of Styria
(Steiermark) is Austria's second largest city, with 250,000
inhabitants. Its Old Town was given the prestigious World
Culture Heritage Award for 1999, and the city has been selected
as a European Culture Capital for the year 2003.
Medieval and Baroque architecture and arcaded courtyards offer
unique charm to Graz. The towering castle and clock tower are
the city's main landmarks. The Provincial Arsenal,
(Landeszeughaus) has a fantastic collection of medieval arms
and armor, including a complete set of armor for a horse!
Other popular sights include the Eggenberg Palace, with its
magnificent staterooms, and the Joanneum Provincial Museum.
And fans of Arnold Schwarzenegger will enjoy the Schwarzenegger
Museum!
There are many excellent restaurants, such as Casino, Mod, and
Der Pichlmaier to mention a few. Two notable vegetarian restaurants
are Gilma and Mangolds. Tipping at restaurants is usually 10
percent of the bill. The province of Styria is wine country; one
of the best wines is the rose-colored Schilcher, with a
characteristic spicy-tart flavor.
Check out the bars and discos, such as Disco Fun & Filou,
Monte, and Arcadium. They're usually open Wednesday through
Saturday.
Recommended side trips: The Spanish Riding School's Lipizzaner
stud farm in Piber. These world famous white horses are actually
born black!
The Baroque Benedictine Monastery in Admont, founded in 1074,
has an enormous library measuring 236 feet in length, and four
fascinating statues representing Death, the Last Judgment,
Heaven, and Hell.
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