The buildings are so grand that the city has a romantic feel to it |
I fell in love with the history of the city and that's what stole my heart; the people throughout history that made Wien the city it is today. It is so complex with so many important historical figures that it was a little hard to keep up.
Because it was off season, there were no free walking tours in the city, so Amanda and I decided we'd be willing to pay for a guided tour. 12 Euros later, and accomapanied by Mike, a Chinese American businessman and the tourguide, we went galavanting around the city.
Vienna was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was ruled by the Habsburg dynasty. The Augustinian Church, next to the Hofburg palace in Vienna., holds 52 hearts of the imperial Habsburg family. What caught my interest about this little church was the cenotaph (an empty tomb that is meant to honor the person whose remains are elsewhere) of Marie Christine, sister of Marie Antionette.
The lion and angel lie at the entrance of the tomb. |
The cenotaph in the St Augustine Church |
Another famous woman of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is Empress Sisi. Beloved by Hungary, and thought a non-conformist in Austria; she became a historical icon. She is most famous for her long locks that took 3 hours to brush each day. She was known to be a little eccentric and yet the more I learnt of her, the more I liked her.
A main attraction of the city is the gothic St Stephen's Cathedral. As a lover of cathedrals, this one did not disappoint. Building started in 1147 and today it is a world famous, cultural heritage site.
The inside of the cathedral was beautiful. |
To be continued in Part 2
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