A musical history
Once home to Mozart and Beethoven, along with its world famous opera house, Vienna has been called the “City of Music”. As the capital and largest city in Austria, its history is long and rich. The Historic Centre of Vienna is so beautiful that it is actually on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list.
St. Stephen’s cathedral
With its Romanesque and Gothic architectural style, St. Stephen’s cathedral is an eerie and elegant sight. The spire has many intricate twists and turns creating haunting forms and shadows.
The smaller building has a very steep glazed tile roof with images of two eagles set into the side. The eagles are the symbol of the Austrian Empire under the rule of the Habsburgs.
Column of Pest (die Wiener Pestsäule)
The Column of Pest (die Wiener Pestsäule) is one of the most famous sculptures in the city. From conception to inauguration it took about fifteen years to complete.
Because of this lengthy process and the death of one of the original artists, Matthias Rauchmiller, the sculpture represents a visible transition in architectural styles. It evolved over time during its construction to be the magnificent sculpture we see today.
Schönbrunn Palace
The Schönbrunn Palace was once the summer home of the Habsburgs rulers. Perched on a hill, this palace overlooks the city and features an amazing landscapes in front and behind. The grounds seem to stretch forever. One can imagine carriages drawn by flowing white horses parading up its central path to bring the elite to their soirées.
The Hofburg
Consisting of about 16 wings, this sprawling palace is one of the largest palace complexes in the world. Formerly home to the Habsburgs, it dates back to the middle ages and has gone through several expansions. The palace is still in use today by the Federal President and is home to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Touring the palace is highly recommended. You can get access to three museums and an audio history of imperial Austria. You’ll want to set aside 1-5 hours, depending on how quickly you want to move through it.
Sachertorte
If you visit Vienna, you can be guaranteed you’ll be told countless times that you just have to try Sachertorte. While you can find “torte” at many eateries, the “official” Sachertorte can only be sold at the Sacher hotel (or other Sacher properties). This dense and rich chocolate cake is referred to by some as the most famous cake in the world. It is constructed with layers of chocolate cake, with a layer of apricot jam in the middle. The whole thing is then smothered with a dark chocolate icing and topped with whipped cream. It is heralded as one of the best pieces of Viennese cuisine and pairs very well with their beloved coffee.
Vienna Coffee
“The best coffee in Europe is Vienna coffee, compared to which all other coffee is fluid poverty.”
– Mark Twain
In an odd bit of history, the first coffeehouse in Vienna was actually founded by an Armenian spy in the 17th century.
Vienna coffee is made by combining chocolate and espresso and topping it with whipped cream and cinnamon. It is commonly served in a clear glass cup. Coffeehouses are abundant and have a long history, so you’ll have no problems finding a great cup.
G’day
So, whether you’re an architecture fan, a European history buff, or just a foodie looking for great coffee and cake, Vienna should definitely be on your bucket list. Just remember mate, there are no kangaroos there (a running joke among the Austrians).