Travel to Austria

St. Stephen's Cathedral

St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna serves as the seat of a Roman Catholic Archbishop, and is the site of many important events in Austria's national life. It was built as a parish church in 1147, then rebuilt and enlarged over the centuries, with a major concluding work in 1511. This cathedral has a Romanesque and Gothic style, with 351 feet long, 111.5 feet wide, and an impressive south tower of 445 feet high. Its north tower has not been completed and is only half as tall, 223 feet high. This cathedral is a defining landmark and more than worth a visit, let's say it is a must visit!

Burgtheater

The Burgtheater is the Austrian National Theater, located in Vienna, considered one of the most important German language theaters in the world. It was created in 1741 by the Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, and 3 Mozart operas premiered there. The theater was largely destroyed in a bombing raid in 1945 and a month later, a fire burned it down, being restored from 1953 to 1955.

Austrian Crown Jewels

The Austrian Crown Jewels are the regalia and vestments worn by the Holy Roman emperor, and later the Austrian emperor, during the coronation ceremony and other state functions, and they are the crowns, scepters, swords, orbs, crosses, holy relics, rings and royal robes, and other objects related to the ceremony. These jewels can be seen at the Schatzkammer, and the collection dates from the 10th century to the 19th century, reflecting a thousand years of European history and heritage.

Schatzkammer

Schatzkammer is the Imperial Treasury in Vienna, located inside the Hofburg Palace, housing a collection of 1.000 years of treasures. Crowns, relics and vestments of the Holy Roman Empire and the Austrian Empire, the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire, the Saber of Charlemagne, and the Holy Lance, which I found one of its most curious artifacts. The Holy Lance is considered to be the lance that pierced Jesus on his side, when he was crucified by the Romans. Other amazing treasures found here are the Burgundian Treasure, the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Ecclesiastical Treasury , and the private collections of the Habsburgs.

Murinsel

The Murinsel is an artificial island, a floating platform in the middle of the Mur river and one of the landmarks in Graz. It started out a a project in 2003, but the people liked it and it stayed, with its stage for performances and the coffeehouse. It was constructed by New Yorker Vito Acconci, for the celebration of the 2003 European Capital of Culture.

Kunsthaus Graz

The Kunsthaus Graz, Grazer Kunsthaus, or Graz Art Museum is an architectural landmark in Graz since 2003, when it was built as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations, and its exhibition program is about contemporary art of the last four decades. The architectural style of this impressive building is known as blob architecture, and its funny nickname "Friendly Alien" was given by its creators, Peter Cook and Colin Fournier.

Mariatrost Basilica

The Mariatrost Basilica is situated on top of the Purberg hill in Graz, is a baroque pilgrimage church, and you need to go up 216 steps of the Angelus stair to reach it. It has two 61 meters front towers and a dome, and its construction began in 1714, finished in 1724. The most impressive thing inside the basilica are the frescoes at the ceiling, and the main altar includes a Madonna statue originally from the Gothic period from 1465.

Herz-Jesu-Kirche

The Herz-Jesu-Kirche is the largest church in Graz, designed by architect George Hauberrisser, in a Neo Gothic style with a large and high nave and under church, constructed from 1881 to 1887. The stained glass windows are a remarkable example of the Neo Gothic glass art, and the church tower is 109.6 meter tall.

Graz

Graz is the second largest city of Austria and the capital of Styria, home of 6 universities, with roots that can be traced back to the Romans, who built a small fort where the city center is now. Graz is a city with an incredible rich history, specially in education, and its first university was founded in 1585. One of its most well known landmarks, is the Clock Tower, located on the top of the hill, is the only place that never fell to the Ottoman Turks assaults in the 16th century.

The Golden Roof

The Golden Roof is a landmark in Innsbruck, built in the 1500's, and it is decorated with around 3000 gold plated copper tiles for Maximilian I, the Holy Roman Emperor, the reliefs on the balcony show coats of arms, figures and symbols of his life. The balcony was used by the Emperor and his guests to watch events on the square.