Vienna~ The City of Music, part 1

Our greeting at the Vienna airport

During Thanksgiving weekend 2012, we traveled with good friends to Austria to visit Vienna and Salzburg.  It was a perfect weekend of palaces, concerts, Advent markets and exploring the city of all cities for Classical music lovers.  The first banner we saw in the airport was this picture of Strauss' Die Fledermaus score.
Even though Christmas was still a month away, much of Vienna had already begun the Christmas festivities, with Advent markets (or Christkindlmarkte), Glühwein and beautiful lights all over the city

The Ring hotel decked out for Christmas

Our hotel was conveniently located within walking distance of  Musikverein,  the home of the Vienna  Philharmonic and the Staatsopera, which is the Vienna State Opera. 

The city was lit for Christmas with small white lights hanging in the middle of all the streets as well as from buildings.

The Plague Column on Graben street, once the town moat. 

   Compared to London, Vienna is small  so it was easy to walk around the city. 

lights added for Advent to the front of the cathedral

St Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) was our first stop which is located in the inner city (Innerstadt).  St Stephen's Cathedral is the home of the Archbishop of Vienna.  The original church on this site was built in 1147.  

St.Stephen's Cathedral  is known for it's colored tile roof

Mostly Mozart~  a chain of souvenir stores with chocolates and any other type of souvenirs you might want to take home from Vienna.

The Belvedere district of Vienna is where the aristocracy of Vienna built their lavish summer residences during the 18th and 19th centuries.  Upper and Lower Belvedere palaces were the home of Prince Eugene of Savoy, an important military commander.  Upper Belvedere Palace now contains the Austrian Gallery with art from the Middle Ages to the present day.  Perhaps the most famous display is that of late 19th c. artist Gustav Klimt who was a symbolist painter and a prominent member of the Vienna Secession movement. 

The Advent Market at Upper Belvedere Palace was one of many that are set up around the city at various palaces and churches.  Bratwurst, pretzels, chestnuts, Christmas gifts and Glühvein are plentiful at the Advent Markets.  

Glühwein was a must at all of the markets!

pastries of all kinds were everywhere  

The advent markets were displayed in the front of beautiful palaces and made for a stunning back drop.

The Rathausplatz Advent Market with City Hall in the background. 

Vienna has plenty of palaces to visit. Schönbrunn Palace was built in the 17th century by Leopold I for his son. It remained incomplete until Empress Maria Theresa added another floor to accommodate  her 16 children and painted it her favorite color~Schönbrunn yellow.  It was once the summer residence of the imperial family.  It has been called Vienna's Versailles.

Advent Market around Schönbrunn Palace

Neptune fountain at Schönbrunn Palace

 We visited five different Advent Markets and every market was filled with unique handmade items.

The Staatshoper (Vienna State Opera) was located down the street from our hotel.  It is one of the world's best known opera houses dating from the mid-19th century. Toward the end of WWII, the opera was burned by an American bombardment.  The stage was destroyed as well as almost the entire decor and props for 120 operas with around 150,000 costumes.  It was eventually restored on the original site.  It has a history of famous musicians who have been the directors, including  Gustav Mahler,  Richard Strauss and Herbert von Karajan.  Today Franz Welser-Möst , director of the Cleveland Orchestra is also the musical director of the Staatshoper.

Grand Foyer of the Opera House

Vienna part 2~  Spanish Riding School, Schönbrunn Palace, Musikverein, more Advent Markets!