Posts Tagged ‘Vienna’
An evening at Vienna’s Volksoper
During my last visit to Vienna, the Opera Ball had been at the opera house in previous days, and ballet performances were scheduled. Luckily, there was Strauss at the Volksoper, so I booked my tickets. Vienna’s Volksoper opened in 1898, originally as the Emperor’s Anniversary City Theater. In 1903, the theatre shifted to operas and…
Read MoreVienna under the snow
This past week, I had a wonderful, long weekend in Vienna. On my last day, I also had the chance to see Vienna coated in magical white, thanks to hours-long snow. It managed to make the city look magical, but stopped by later afternoon, making my trip to the airport easy and not delaying flights.…
Read MoreA European Christmas market round-up
‘Tis the season … And for me, that means it’s a good time to reflect on some of my favorite Christmas markets around Europe. Because I live in Rome, people often think the city is decked out for the holidays. Sadly, especially in recent years, this couldn’t be further from the truth. To enjoy the…
Read MoreNot quite ready to say Auf Wiedersehen – Demel at Vienna airport
There are so many things to like about Austria’s capital city of Vienna. Many years ago, I lived here for a short time, and now I enjoy getting back for visits. Perhaps it’s better that I don’t live here, because when I do return I simply can’t resist all the wonderful sweets on offer. I’ve…
Read MoreVienna’s plague column
I’ve already written about Plague art in Vienna in an earlier post, concentrating on the impressive Plague column and the monumental Karlskirche. Both of these monuments were erected to commemorate Vienna’s emergence from tragic outbreaks of the Plague, and both are well-known landmarks of modern-day Vienna. The Plague, otherwise known as Bubonic Plague or ‘Black Death’…
Read MoreExplore Palais Ferstel’s Passage, Vienna
In Mitteleuropa and Eastern Europe, I always love peeking into the spectacular ‘passages’. Vienna is no exception and the beautiful Freying Passage of the Palais Ferstel is well worth a visit on your next visit to stately Vienna. The palace is named after Heinrich von Ferstel, the architect who built it in 1860. The passage…
Read MoreA round-up of European Christmas markets to visit
This year, I couldn’t manage to escape to one of the Christmas markets I love in Europe, so instead on this post I’ll pine away thinking about great Christmas markets of the past take a look at some of the Christmas markets I’ve posted about in European cities. Should you find yourself in any of…
Read MoreFun and games at the Wienerriesenrad and the Prater Park, Vienna
Vienna’s famous Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel) is a landmark in this city. It is 64.75 meters (212 feet) tall and was built back in 1897, to celebrate the golden jubilee of Emperor Franz Josef. It was one of the first ferris wheels every built. It was the world’s tallest ferris wheel from 1920 until 1985. The…
Read MoreI want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike … in Vienna
Last month I was on a weekend trip with my two sons for a family event in Vienna. Long ago, I briefly lived in this city, and I’m always happy to return. One thing that many visitors may not realize is that Vienna is a great city to see by bike. The city boasts over…
Read MoreHolidays in Vienna
I always love Vienna, a city I lived in for a short time many years ago. But I especially love Vienna during the holiday season. It’s cold outside, and often white from a dusting of snow. The city is lit up beautifully with thousands of lights, shining off the cobblestones and the storefront windows all…
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