Bask in history, culture and the arts in these five locations in the city of the Habsburgs.
Those who travel to revel in culture probably think, firstly, of Paris, perhaps Kyoto if they’re only considering Asia. But at the heart of Europe lies another city you should look at: Vienna. As the center of the Habsburgs’ empire, Austria’s present-day capital has, because of its history, accrued much cultural capital. A trip to Vienna these days means a sojourn to the plethora of museums and palaces that dot the city, enough to make your head spin. So, for your consideration, here are places in Vienna to book for your itinerary.
Schönbrunn Palace
Proclaimed a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO, the former Habsburg summer residence is a showcase of exquisite Baroque architecture. Its landscaping is no less a work of art, epitomizing Gesamtkunstwerk, a concept that, in architecture, describes the aesthetic cohesion found in a building’s interior, exterior, and gardens.
The interiors are as grand as you would expect. One of the most magnificent of rooms is the Hall of Ceremonies, whose paintings depict the nuptials of Empress Maria Theresa’s heir, Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, and Princess Isabella of Parma, Infanta of Spain. In homage to her, a portrait of Empress Maria Theresa hangs in the room, showing her clad in lace finery. Another room, the Great Gallery, boasts of a massive ceiling painting that calls to mind the Sistine Chapel.
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The Belvedere
The Belvedere started out as a complex of two palaces, the Upper Belvedere and the Lower Belvedere. They were built upon the request of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Like Schönbrunn, the palaces also depict Baroque architecture further beautified by extensive gardens. In the 20th century, a third building was added: the Belvedere 21, which exhibits modern art and functions as a venue for talks and other events.
Going to all three museums promises a feast for the eyes, from the modern pieces on display in the Belvedere 21 to the permanent collection of great artworks housed in the Upper Belvedere. Be sure to see Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss in the latter.
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The Hofburg
The main residence of the Habsburgs until 1918, the Hofburg now serves as the headquarters of the Austrian president, though visitors can still come and explore. It contains three sections: the Sisi Museum, which offers an intimate portrait into the life of Empress Elisabeth, an icon in the country; the Silver Collection, a display of Habsburg utensils that graced royal banquets; and the Imperial Apartments, under which fall the rooms Empress Elisabeth and her husband Emperor Franz Joseph used in their lifetimes.
Among the rooms to see in the Imperial Apartments is Empress Elisabeth’s Large Salon. As she was a lover of Greek mythology and culture, on the walls are paintings depicting Greece. In the room also sits a statue of Napoleon’s sister Elisa Bonaparte as Polyhymnia, one of the Muses.
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The Vienna State Opera (Staatsoper)
Besides a stately building to capture for Instagram or your personal photo collection, Vienna’s State Opera is one of the best places in the world to enjoy opera and ballet. Its distinguished history started with a performance of Don Giovanni by Mozart, where in the audience sat Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth. The tours they offer daily are conducted in English and German; included in them is the Tea Salon, whose ceiling painting represents how different art forms combine to make opera come alive.
Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthistorisches Museum)
Another stately building to make your jaw drop is the Museum of Fine Arts, which possesses perhaps an even more sizable collection of artwork. Its displays span millennia, starting from the Ancient Near East and Ancient Egypt.
It also houses pieces from Ancient Greece and Rome and paintings from some of Europe’s great artists, such as Titian, Rubens and Rembrandt, and an impressive array of Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s oeuvre. The collection of paintings consist of works gathered mostly by Habsburg art lovers like Archduke Leopold Wilhelm.
Banner photo courtesy of Schönbrunn Palace’s official website.
