Artistic Charms of Vienna
The Capital of Austria can't be fully seen in one day. In this second day of exploration I was immersed in the musical culture of the city. As hours passed by my heart yearned to stay in that wonderful place called Vienna.
The day began with a walking tour. The best way to get the feeling of a city is by walking around its streets and taking in all the local happenings. The first thing we encountered was St. Stephen's Cathedral of Medieval origin. Inside there are catacombs, an ornate spire and a treasury museum.The Plague Column was nearby in Graben street. This column was placed in the 17th century in memory of the victims of the plague.
The inner city's streets were mostly tranquil. There were locals buying bouquets from the flower carts, people going to work and a few tourists. In front of St. Peter's Church there were three horse carriages riding through. Inside the church there was a ceremony going on. We respectfully took our pictures in silence behind the established line and a couple of people bought candles to light, a practice done to pray for something specific, pay respects or ask for forgiveness.
Afterwards, lunch time was spent at Rosenberger which had a variety of dishes to choose from in a buffet setting. The restaurant also had a souvenir store with unique items. I wandered around another shop were I tasted Preschitz Eiswein, one of the best wines I've had.
Right in the center of the Plaza before heading up to the Albertina Museum is Neptune Fountain. The main focus of the statue is Neptune, his wife Salacia and their child Triton. The family sits on a pedestal held by three mermen also referred to as tritons.
The main event of the day for me was visiting the Opera House of Vienna one of the most important Opera Houses in the world. It was designed by architects Eduard van der Nüll and August von Sicardsburg and built in 1869. Both men died before the building was finished. The opening premiere was Don Giovanni by Mozart on May 25, 1869 with the attendance of Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elisabeth also known as Sissi. Our group was given a tour and a chance to go backstage and witness the crew setting the props. The Vienna Opera House is also home to the most prestigious Ball which happens once a year. Next year it will be on February 28th, 2019.
My next musical experience was at the House of Music. The building is constituted by five floors. The first floor is where the reception and Café are. The second floor is dedicated to Vienna's Orchestra. The third is a Sonosphere where visitors can immerse themselves in the world of sound. The fourth floor is dedicated to all the greats like Joseph Haydn, Mozart, Bach and many more. The fifth and final floor has more musical interactive experiences for visitors and a gift shop. My favorite part of the House was the piano stairwell that played a tone with every step.
The night ended with a wonderful concert that included a musical selection of Strauss and Mozart at Kursalon Hübner. I hope this second part of the Vienna travel blog series has sparked your interest in this magical city even more. Be sure to read part one, Arriving in Vienna. Plus, stay tuned for the third and last part of the blog series coming soon. Happy Travels!
