|
 |
 |
Welcome to Vienna, one of the world's most romantic capital
cities. This glorious imperial metropolis offers a bewildering
array of cultural riches. The museums are absolutely
peerless-the dazzling Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthistorisches Museum)
houses the most extensive collection of Bruegels paintings anywhere,
while the Austrian Gallery Belvedere (Österreichische Galerie Belvedere)
offers masterpieces by Klimt, Schiele, Kokoschka, and others.
There are literally dozens of additional museums around the city.
Music abounds. The Vienna Opera (Staatsoper)
is one of the best, and the Vienna Philharmonic
(Wiener Philharmoniker) has few equals. Viennese productions of
light operas-operettas-are standards for opera companies everywhere.
Vienna is also a city of monumental architecture, ranging from the
robust Hofburg, home to centuries of Habsburgs, to the neo-Gothic
City Hall (Rathaus). St. Stephan's Cathedral (Dompfarre St. Stephan),
a true Gothic masterpiece, is one of the city's most enduring symbols.
The other is the Great Ferris Wheel, the world's largest, located
in the Prater amusement park on the Danube. There are scores of
historic churches. There are three palaces. In addition to Hofburg,
the Habsburgs had a summer home, Schönbrunn Palace; its 1,441 opulent
rooms and formal gardens constitute one of Austria's-and
Europe's-premier tourist attractions. The Belvedere, comprised of
two palatial buildings, was the summer residence of Prince Eugene
of Savoy, who according to the Austrians, saved Vienna, Austria,
and the western world from the Turks in 1683. (This claim is disputed
by the Poles, who insist that Polish King Jan Sobieski III and his
army rescued the Austrians in the Battle of Vienna.)
The Turkish invasion ultimately gave this city one of its fondest
traditions: the coffee house (kaffeehaus). (The Turks' coffee
beans were among the spoils of war.) Coffee making has since
evolved into a fine art. Try mokka (black), mélange
(with frothed milk), fiaker (with rum or brandy), or einspänner
(with whipped cream). Delicious! While you're at it, surrender
to the temptation of a voluptuously rich Viennese pastry.
Viennese cuisine ranges from five-star restaurants to simple
bistro (beisel) with low-priced menus and prix fixe dinners.
It's almost impossible to get a bad meal in Vienna (or for that
matter, anywhere in Austria). Even fast food places offer
good fare!
Vienna's inner city is surrounded by a great, wide boulevard known
as the Ringstrasse, or "the Ring." Along the Ring you'll find
lovely parks and public gardens to enjoy. Excellent shopping
opportunities abound around Mariahilferstrasse, Kärntnerstrasse,
Graben, and Kohlmarkt. The flea market at the Kettenbrückengasse
underground station every Saturday is a shopping heaven for curio
collectors and souvenir hunters. After dark, Vienna offers diverse
nightlife, from its Casino Wien and formal-dress discos to laid-back
bars and wine cellars catering to fans of folk music.
| |
Welcome to Vienna, one of the world's most romantic capital
cities. This glorious imperial metropolis offers a bewildering
array of cultural riches. The museums are absolutely
peerless-the dazzling Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthistorisches Museum)
houses the most extensive collection of Bruegels paintings anywhere,
while the Austrian Gallery Belvedere (Österreichische Galerie Belvedere)
offers masterpieces by Klimt, Schiele, Kokoschka, and others.
There are literally dozens of additional museums around the city.
