Vienna
It is a federal province and also the federal capital of Austria. It is an important nexus of East-West trade and a frequent host of major congresses - International Congresses in the Hofburg Center (UNO City) or the recently completed, Austria Center, Vienna. Vienna lies in the northeast of the country, with the Danube running through the northern suburbs of the city. The Inner City, or Innere Stadt, is the heart of Vienna, bounded by the Ringstrasse and containing some of the best of the city's architecture, shops and hotels. Walking is one of the best ways to see the Inner City, as the area covers just a square mile and is steeped in an atmosphere of elegance and the style and romance of a vanished era.
The Austrian National Library at Josefplatz is generally regarded as an outstanding masterpiece of the Baroque period. The Schonbrunn Palace is a rival to the sumptuous palace at Versailles and the city houses some of the finest art collections in the world. The city has a number of festivals and balls running from New Year's Eve to Mardi Gras. Spring sees the Festival of Vienna with concerts, operas and theatrical performances. Essential is a visit to the Spanish Riding School in the Hofburg, once the Central Palace of the Austrian Empire which has the Imperial apartments and Crown Jewels.
The State Opera House (Vienna)
This Opera House is one of the most famous Opera Theaters in the world. Some of the best directors of all times have performed here. The list is almost endless, but to name just a few: Mahler, Strauss, Krauss and von Karajan. The origins of this Opera House are not very fortunate; one of its architects (Eduard van der Nüll) killed himself because he couldn't stand the negative reaction of the citizens of Vienna to his work. The other architect (August von Sicardsburg) died soon after too. The Opera House was almost totally destroyed in World War 2, but soon after was reconstructed following the original plans (it was reopened in 1955).
Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural History (Vienna)
The Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural History are two symmetric buildings that sit one in front of the other. The Fine Arts Museum has a vast collection of Fine Arts, from Ancient Egypt works to Rubens, Rembrant, Titian and Raphael. The Natural history museum has a collection of meteorites, fossils, insects and skeletons of pre-historic animals. Both Museums were built by Gottfried Semperand and Karl von Hasenauer. The construction of these buildings began in 1872, the first was completed in 1881 and the second in 1891.
Parliament (Vienna)
In the lower house of Austria (the National Council), the members are elected by popular vote and the upper house (the Federal Council), the members are chosen by the states. Both the lower and upper house members sit in this building. The building is on Dr Karl Renner's Avenue. Renners was Austria's first Chancellor at the establishment of the republic in 1918, and its president from 1945 to 1950 after the re-establishment of the democratic republic.
The City Hall (Vienna)
The City Hall (Rathaus in German) houses the office of the mayor of the city of Vienna and the governor of the state of Vienna, the Assembly and the City Council. It was built in a neo-Gothic style by Friedriech von Schimdt between 1872 and 1883. This 321 feet building is the most important secular work of this style in the city On both sides of the City Hall is a very attractive park (Rathauspark). On the top of the tower of the City Hall, sits the "Iron Knight of City Hall" (Eiserner Rathausmann), which is one of the symbols of Vienna.
Burgtheater (Vienna)
The Burgtheater, houses the Court and National Theater. This institution was founded in 1776 by Emperor Joseph II, and since then is a reference point for all Theater lovers in Central Europe. The original was completed in 1888 and was reconstructed after the second World War.
Votive Church (Vienna)
This is one of the most beautiful churches in Vienna. This church is famous because it holds the tomb of Count Niklas Salm (commander of Vienna in the first Turkish siege of 1529), which was transferred from the Church of St. Dorothy in 1878. The church was completed in 1879 by Heinrich von Ferstel, under the instructions of Archduke Ferdinand Max, as a token of gratitude, when his brother, emperor Francis Joseph, survived an assassination attempt.
St. Stephen's Cathedral (Vienna)
Here you can see some of the horse cars that take tourists on a tour of the city in front of the Saint Stephen's Cathedral. This Cathedral has a Romanesque origin. Its construction began in the 12th century during the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia. The church was completely reconstructed in Gothic Style following the orders of Duke Rudolph IV of Habsburg.
This Cathedral is dedicated to the first martyr of Christendom: Saint Stephen (Stefan in German). The South Tower was completed in 1443 and the Northern Tower in 1579. The Baroque altarpieces were added in the 18th century. The Cathedral was reconstructed after being devastated by a fire during World War 2. Inside the Cathedral there are many art treasures: the tomb of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1754), the Altarpiece of Wiener Neustadt, the pulpit by Anton Pilgrim (1514-15), the sepulcher of Emperor Frederik III by Niclas Gerhaert (1467-1513) and the Gothic winged Altar.
Schönbrunn Palace (Vienna)
The Palace has its origins in 1559, when Emperor Maximilian II who was looking for a hunting lodge purchased a mansion in the outskirts of the city.
Later, this Palace used to be the Habsburgs Summer residence (their official residence was the Imperial Palace). Here you can take a look at some of its magnificent rooms, among others the Room of Millions, one of the best samples of rococo in the world. The Schönbrunn Palace, is one of Vienna's most beautiful buildings. Here is where the Empress Maria Theresa lived with her 16 children and her husband Emperor Francis I. Years later this was the place chosen by Napoleon as his headquarters during his Austrian campaigns.
In 1749 Nikolaus Pacassi created the present exterior. Inside the walls of the Schönbrunn Palace have taken place some events that have changed the history of Austria: a six year old prodigy kid gave a concert in 1772 (nothing special, if he wasn't Mozart), Maria Theresa held private conference with Prince Kaunitz, Napoleon met with his generals in the Vieux Laque Room, and in 1918 Emperor Charles I signed his abdication of the crown. From the Maria Theresien Gloriette you can admire a wonderful view of the Palace and of the city of Vienna. Here there's a bar where we can sit for a while and enjoy the moment. The Gloriette was constructed in 1757 to commemorate the battle of Koln over Frederick II of Prussia. Other interesting visits in the gardens of the Schönbrunn Palace are the Palm House, the Butterfly house, the Baroque Palace Theater (restored in 1980) and a Zoo (Tiergarten).
UNO City (Vienna)
UNO city was completed in 1979, in order to host some international organizations that had their offices in other parts of Vienna. Some of the most important organizations are: the International Atomic Energy Agency and The United Nations Industrial Development Organization, among other agencies of the UN.
Next to the UNO city, there's the Austria Convention Center Vienna built from 1982 to 1987, with several conference halls, designed by the Viennese architect J. Staber.
Belvedere Palace (Vienna)
The Belvedere Palace was constructed in 1722 by Johan Lukas von Hildebrandt, when Prince Eugene of Savoy - Commander in Chief of the Imperial Army-- asked him to construct a Summer palace for him. He actually never lived here.
The Palace houses the Austrian Gallery, with 19th and 20th century Austrian and International works. Among others, there are the works of Amerling, Hausner, Hundertwasser, Klimt, Kokoscha, Romako, Schiele, Waldmüller and some French impressionists too.
Imperial Palace (Vienna)
The imperial Palace was the residence of the Habsburg emperors, who's empire lasted until 1918. The palace has undergone several modifications and expansions.
Originally it was a medieval castle - unfortunately from this period only the chapel remains. In the 16th century the Palace stables and Amalia's wing were added. In the 17th century Leopold's wing, in the 18th century the Imperial Chancery wing, the Court Library and the Spanish Winter Riding School were added. In the 19th century the St Michael's wing was added. Finally, in the 20th century the New Palace was built, and then came the end of the empire and with it, the Palace expansion ended.
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