Shortly after I moved here last year, I downloaded two walking tours of Vienna through my mom's library back in Virginia. I think I did the first one during Easter break last year, and then somehow had never gotten around to doing the second one. This second one was entitled "The Old City" and pretty much goes around in the first district to places I go all the time, so I didn't really feel the need to rush into listening to it. Early last week we had our first real hint of spring weather, and a gorgeous sunny clear day, so I decided I'd work the walking tour into the errands I had to run, having it playing on my ipod and then pausing it when I passed somewhere I actually needed to go.
As suspected, it didn't really go anywhere I haven't been, or haven't taken pictures of and put on here...but I'm certainly not tired of these places yet...and there were a few new stories to add. (as a bit of a disclaimer...some of these little trivia tidbits are from the travel writer who does these tours and I did not go back and check his word against anyone else's...)
The tour began at the Staatsoper, built in 1869, one of the first big buildings on the Ring. I don't actually have many pictures of the Opera in the daytime, since I'm sort of obsessed with the way it is lit at night...no shortage of those pictures...
The Maltese Church. I actually pass this at least weekly if not more and had never really paid great attention to what it was. It was originally founded by the Knights of Malta in the early 13th century while they were helping fight off the Ottoman Turks (and would for the next 350 years).
The Franciscan Church. Built between 1603 and 1611, also contains the oldest organ in Vienna.
One of Mozart's apartments in Vienna, this is now the Mozart Museum here, which I still have yet to go inside.
Stephansdom
This building was actually built in the end of the 19th century, but the towers are representative of the medieval building that once stood here, which was a large Inn that accommodated merchants coming to trade in Vienna.
The Jesuit Church. Which I have been inside and I think posted about...built in the middle of the 17th Century, although the front decorations were added slowly over the next hundred years or so.
Apparently the house where The Basilisk was discovered in a well in 1212. The monster then saw its reflection in a mirror and turned to stone.
I'm all for descriptive street names...this is a replica of the original "pretty lamps" on Schönlaterngasse (literally pretty lamp lane)
This is one place I had not actually been...since it's now a parking lot hidden behind several buildings...but this was originally a marketplace for monks in the Middle Ages to sell produce, and was used as a marketplace for centuries. It is now mostly residential, although there is still a small church on the side here as well.
Judengasse...the old Jewish Quarter...although now this is mostly an area of bars and restaurants.
Ruprechtskirche. I have an entire post dedicated to the inside and outside of this church...
Hoher Markt. Another place I pass through often, although there are Roman ruins in this square that I haven't actually taken the time to go see. This was the center of the Roman settlement that was in Vienna. It has had a bit of a varied history since then...gathering place for Dark Age warlords, and then a fishmarket, gallows, and home for the mentally ill during the Middle Ages. Yet another reminder of just how long people have been walking these same streets, it's almost too amazing to fully grasp.
Peterskirche. Again...pictures of the inside in another post...long night of the churches I believe.
Am Hof. I cross through here several times a week it seems, and throughout the year it is home to a Christmas Market and as well as various festivals. It is the largest and oldest square in Vienna and has been the location of centuries of hangings, joustings and festivals.
The Church Am Hof. The end of the Holy Roman Empire was declared on this balcony in 1806 by Emperor Franz I of Austria.
Judenplatz. This large monument is the memorial to the Jews killed in the Holocaust.
That brought us to the end of that little tour. Overall the tours are quite interesting, although some of the pronunciations of places in German are a bit cringe worthy even for me...but really any excuse to wander around town is fine by me.
And now it's back to school and reading and classes and all that. Although considering this was the view from school while having coffee with a friend last week, I'm certainly not complaining. We got another bit of snow yesterday and it's definitely windy and cold today, but hopefully real spring is coming soon and will actually stick around this time.
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