Among the most elegant and richest European capitals in places of interest in Europe, we undoubtedly find the first places Vienna, the charming city with imperial overtones located on the banks of the "beautiful blue Danube", as Johann Strauss put it to music.
From royal residences to art galleries, from lively streets to large green spaces, Vienna is a city with a thousand faces in one, which is very easy to reach thanks to the numerous networks of roads, railways and the international airport. It is equipped with excellent transport links and has more 50% green spaces, characteristics that make it today one of the cities with the best quality of life. But its real beating heart is there. music: The greatest classical composers of all time lived and settled here.
Let's see that symbol places of this city, which make Vienna an unmissable destination.
The Ringstrasse works: the royal Hofburg palace
The historical Ring road It is a prestigious street in Vienna famous all over the world, approximately 5,3 kilometers long. Its name literally means "ring road", precisely because it surrounds the historic center and includes seven other "street", streets. It was built at the request of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1857 to connect the suburbs of Vienna with the imperial center, replacing the old medieval walls.
Today the one on Ringstrasse is one nice walk to enjoy on foot or by tram, one of the most efficient means of transportation in the city, and admire the palaces, historic buildings, museums and lush parks.
Right on the Ringstrasse, on Heldenplatz, is the majestic royal palace complex of Hofburg, one of Vienna's main attractions. It is a great architectural work of 18 buildings and more than 2600 rooms, a gigantic royal residence that hosted the Habsburg dynasty for more than six centuries and today is the official seat of the President of the Republic.
In the palace, in addition to the sumptuous imperial apartments of Franz Joseph and his wife Isabel (the famous Princess Sissi), we find the Sissi Museum, the Imperial Treasury, the Court Silver Museum and the headquarters of the Spanish riding school. Those who want to know more about the life of the princess can visit the apartments located within the Hofburg complex, with a guided tour to discover the life of the empress.
Continuing into the city: St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Mozarthaus
The beauties of the Inner Stadt, the historic center, are just beginning. Precisely due to the concentration of a priceless architectural heritage, the entire district has been considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, and the historic streets full of cafes and cultural spaces give the city an elegant and at the same time lively atmosphere.
Another iconic symbol of the city is the Cathedral of Santo Stefano, or Stephansdom, located in the square of the same name, Stephansplatz, a wonderful Gothic cathedral whose beauty is capable of overshadowing any other building in the surrounding area.
It was built from the 12th century onwards, and its structure with Gothic shapes that rise towards the sky is such that it can be seen from every corner of the city. The cathedral is Vienna symbol, also for the colored tiles on the roof that form the coats of arms of Austria, Vienna and the double-headed eagle that represented the Habsburg empire. Inside the cathedral it is possible to admire the tombs of important figures and, climbing the 343 steps, climb to the top of the bell tower, to enjoy the city panorama from above.
Vienna is also the international reference city for classical music and the homeland of best musicians of every era: more than ten thousand people decide every afternoon to dedicate their free time to listening to one of the numerous concerts offered in the city, record numbers.
A few minutes from Stephanplatz is Mozart's apartment, the Mozart House, the only residence of the most famous composer of all time that still exists in Vienna. In fact, Mozart, along with others, chose Vienna as his adopted home for over 35 years, and here he composed many of his most important works. By purchasing a ticket for a guided tour inside the apartment it is also possible to attend a exposure focused on the years that represented the peak of his career. At the Mozarthaus it is also possible to participate in one of the many classical music concerts that take place in the city.
Museums to see in Vienna: the Museumsquartier, the Albertina and the Academy of Fine Arts.
Among the things to see in Vienna, the numerous museums offer a wide range of artistic options in different areas of the city, both in the Museumsquartier and in the historic center.
Il Museumsquartier It is an area in which the presence of several museums is concentrated, constituting a large museum artistic center Unique in the world of more than sixty thousand square meters. Here there are museums of traditional and modern art, some facing each other, containing important collections of artists of the caliber of Gustav Klimt and Andy Warhol.
Among the museums most appreciated by visitors from all over the world in the museum district, the Leopold Museum, more than five thousand works of Austrian modernist painting from the 19th century, and the MUMOK, Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna, a museum di contemporary art Distributed over five floors with works ranging from American pop art to radical realism and land art.
you can also visit Albertine Museum, located within the Hofburg Palace, which houses artists of the caliber of Klimt, Cèzanne and Picasso, and the art gallery ofAcademy of Fine Arts, on Schillerplatz, 1600 works of incalculable value created from the XNUMXth century onwards by the greatest masters.
even the Belvedere Castle, a summer residence built by order of Eugene of Savoy in the early 18th century, is home to an important art museum housing the famous work of Klimt “The Kiss”. By purchasing a ticket to the castle it is possible to visit both the interior of the Upper Belvedere and the art collections kept in the building.
The outskirts of Vienna: Schönbrunn Palace and the Alpine valleys
Visiting Vienna means above all admiring centuries of imperial history, represented by the numerous residences built in honor of the most important dynasties in the world, but also lost in the Austrian valleys of the suburbs.
On the outskirts of Vienna is another imposing imperial residence, the Schönbrunn Castle, Habsburg palace from 1730 to 1918. It is located in Hietzing, on the western outskirts of Vienna, and is a splendid building built on the model of the palace of Versailles by Baroque, built in 1696 by order of Leopold I.
The sovereign wanted a new residence for his son Joseph I, a palace that also represented the power of the monarchy, and was the site of important celebrations and parties. Today it has 1441 rooms, some for government use and others as a museum.
The castle is surrounded by a wonderful park, which extends for approximately two square kilometers characterized by rows of trees, architectural complexes with various attractions, fountains and floral geometries. For a pleasant trip, it is possible to visit the castle with a guided tour with a certified audio guide, combining the visit with a traditional local meal.
La geographical position of Vienna It also allows you to reach places in Lower Austria in just a few hours, such as Salsburgo and the peaks of the Hallstatt mountains in the alpine landscapes. Vienna is also located just a few kilometers from Slovakia and the European cities of Bratislava, Budapest and Prague, which can be reached within a few hours by car for an unforgettable day trip.
What to do at night: Vienna at night
Many think that Vienna is a purely cultural city with little entertainment, but that is not true.
Here what to do in Vienna at night: you can choose between the places on Schwedenplatz in the first district, the snack market, a market full of bars and restaurants, concerts at the Opera and the Prater, the city's most famous playground.
If you haven't tried the local dishes yet, I recommend spending an afternoon strolling through the streets of the center. In Vienna you will find some of the most famous desserts in the world, first of all the tarte sacher, to end the day on a sweet note. For a romantic evening, a boat trip along the Danube Canal is ideal, between the soft lights and the sound of the water you will have the opportunity to admire the city from the banks of the canal.
If you prefer to have fun with attractions and ferris wheels, you cannot miss visiting Charlatan, the most popular amusement park in the city. The ticket for the Ferris wheel can be purchased online, you can't say you've visited Vienna without admiring its skyline from above!
What more can we say about this romantic city? It is known as a city. elegant and rich, apparently and to say something about the first Remove featured image cozy, but when you visit it you will realize that Vienna also has a tender heart for all its visitors. It brings with it centuries of history and culture, so much so that it would take at least a week's stay to visit it all. From music to art, from history to science, during your short or long stay, you will most likely also have the opportunity to participate in many international events and festivals staying in the city.
