| Grandiose Vienna was the showpiece of the all-conquering Hapsburg Dynasty. Monumental edifices line the city center and world-class museums burst with treasures. This series feature the Church of Maria Am Gestade, the museums at Museumplatz, the Karlsplatz, the monuments of Brahms and Strauss, St. Peter's Church, Franciskanerkirche at Stephenplatz, the Naschmarkt, the Parliament, Rathaus or Town Hall, Hapsburg Theater, the University of Vienna, Votiv Church, and the Austria Convention Center, venue of the ICA 2004 Congress. For sheer grandness, the neogothic Rathaus (City Hall)is a must see. Modelled on Flemish city halls, its main spire soars to 102m. Between the Rathaus and the Ringstrasse is the Rathauspark, with fountains, benches and several statues. At the southeast corner of Resselpark is Karlskirche (Church of St Charles Borromeo), the finest baroque church in Vienna. This imposing creation was built between 1716 and 1739, after a vow by Karl VI at the end of the 1713 plague. It's quite a surprise to walk through the front doors of this early 17th-century Franciscan church after eyeing up the plain Renaissance façade to find a baroque interior strewn with gold and marble and heavy, glittering chandeliers. The high altar of the Franziskanerkirche is a particularly impressive piece in the form of a triumphal arch. Votivkirche (Votive Church), a twin-towered Gothic construction was completed in 1879. The interior, too large and bleak to be welcoming, is bedecked with ... |
