 Vienna - Austria’s capital offers a unique blend of imperial traditions and stunning modern architecture. It is famous for its cultural events, imperial sights, coffee houses, cozy wine taverns, and the very special Viennese charm. It ranks as one of the finest cities in the world to live. Vienna combines its history with the influence and changes of the new world. There are so many attractions in Vienna including: Schloss Schönbrunn, the former imperial summer residence, is one of the most popular sights. The sumptuous palace with the beautifully tended formal gardens, the Gloriette monument, the Palm House, and the zoo attract hordes of visitors each year. The huge Hofburg (Imperial Palace) was the base of the Habsburgs for over six centuries, and is an impressive repository of culture and heritage. The splendid baroque Belvedere Palace today houses the Österreichische Galerie (Austrian Gallery) displaying the largest collection of works by Klimt and Kokoschka as well as famous paintings by Schiele. Vienna’s prime landmarks are the gothic Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral) Another great attraction is the Giant Ferris Wheel in the Prater. This is Vienna’s old recreational park and seen in the movie The Third Man. The Spanish Riding School with their world-famous Lipizzaner horses, where you can visit the stables or watch a live performance. Vienna has more museums and galleries of international reputation than you can shake a stick at: Kunsthistorischen Museum with the world’s largest collection of Bruegel paintings, MuseumsQuartier with Leopold Museum (Schiele), Museum Moderner Kunst (Museum of Modern Art), and Kunsthalle rank among the city's most important cultural venues. The Albertina is home to the world’s largest collection of graphic arts and prints (60,000 drawings, 1 million prints). Vienna owes much of its international fame to the many celebrated composers who lived and worked here including Strauss, Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world’s best, the Staatsoper one of the world’s leading opera houses, the Vienna Boys’ Choir one the world’s most famous. In the last years Vienna has also established itself as a great musical metropolis. In Vienna, traditional coffee houses, rustic wine taverns and the beloved sausage stand (Wuerstelstand) exist alongside with top restaurants and shops, time-honored events alternate with internationally-acclaimed extravaganzas (Life Ball) to create a unique and very special ambiance. Another special feature of Vienna is its many greenspace and recreational areas such as the Wienerwald, the Prater and the Donauinse. Vienna is a truly remarkable destination and one that will be long remembered. |
