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St. Stephen's Cathedral
The focal point of Vienna's inner city is St. Stephen's Square, where the Gothic spire of St. Stephen's Cathedral rises over the skyline. Viennese law forbids the construction of any building taller than the cathedral. Tours of the cathedral include an ascent by elevator to the peak of the bell tower, where visitors may take in a commanding view of the city in all directions. Another tour takes visitors down into the underground realm of the church, called the catacombs or crypts. Dukes, bishops, and common folk alike were buried in tombs under the cathedral during the Middle Ages.
Roman Excavations
Around the corner and two streets away from St. Stephen's Cathedral are the partially excavated ruins of Vindobona, the ancient Roman fortress that gave Vienna its name. Some of the ancient layout has been marked in red stone on the streets above, although the fortress itself was completely buried after the fall of the Roman Empire and only rediscovered in recent centuries. An underground exhibit displays actual walls and baths that were built by the Romans, built over by the Viennese, and subsequently unearthed for their historic interest. Also on display are ancient Roman artifacts that were found in the ruins.
Old and New Palaces
A brief walk from the Vindobona excavation takes you to the Graben, once a Roman defensive trench and now a wide pedestrian avenue. Across the Graben and down a short street are the gates of the Old Palace (Alte Hofburg), the large and lavishly decorated seat of Austrian rulers. The gates are always open, inviting you to walk down the archway and through several courtyards until you emerge into Heroes' Square.
The square is framed by the Old Palace and the New Palace (Neue Hofburg), also known as the Imperial Palace because it was built at the height of Austria's imperial era. The two palaces are joined into one massive structure. You can wander its convoluted interior hallways for days without exhausting the treasures and curiosities. The palatial exterior, a harmonious arrangement of neo-classical columns and Baroque arches, forms one of the most splendid sights in all of Europe.
The Twin Museums
If you walk through Heroes' Square, past the People's Garden and between the Imperial Palace gates, you find yourself at the Ring road. Immediately on the other side of the Ring is Maria Theresa Square. Facing each other across the grassy expanse are two imposing museums. They are nearly identical on the outside, yet each has a very distinct mission on the inside. At one end of Maria Theresa Square is the Museum of Natural History, while at the other is the Museum of Art History. A double dose of art and science awaits the inquisitive mind.
The Outer Ring
An impressive sequence of Viennese architecture awaits you beyond Maria Theresa Square. Just across the street is the Messepalast, a vast art gallery and exhibition hall. At one of its corners, diagonally opposite the Museum of Natural History, is the People's Theater. On the other side of the theater is the Palace of Justice, Vienna's principal courthouse. Circle the courthouse and you are on the Ring again, standing next to the Austrian Parliament and across from the Theseus Temple in the People's Garden.
Continue along the Ring to find yourself at the City Theater, and facing it, across a sizeable park, Vienna's City Hall. The German name for City Hall is Rathaus, which may seem amusing even after you learn that “Rat” means “council”. At the other end of the Mayoral park is the main block of the University of Vienna. Across the street is Roosevelt Square and the great dome of the Votive Church. Here begins one of the broadest and leafiest segments of the Ring. Halfway along it is Vienna's stock market (Börse). You can walk further until you reach the Danube Canal, or turn at the stock market and walk back into the inner city, where you will soon reach the old medieval city hall (Altes Rathaus).
Schönbrunn Palace and Zoo
Many tourists in Vienna find that their visit is not complete without a trip to Schönbrunn, the Austrian emperors' country estate. Schönbrunn is located in a suburb of modern Vienna and is easily accessible by public transport. The U4 subway, also known as the green line, will take you from the Ring to Schönbrunn station within ten minutes. The estate encompasses manicured gardens, rolling hills, ornamental fountains, and an important zoo in addition to the large, exquisitely ornamented palace.
Art Exhibitions
The art galleries and art museums of Vienna display a vast range of paintings and sculptures from the medieval, Renaissance, and modern periods. Viennese art collections include numerous masterpieces collected by the imperial rulers of Austria, as well as the works of famous homegrown artists such as Gustav Klimt. The most important art gallery in Vienna is the Albertina. The Albertina is attached to the imperial palace complex in the inner city, and features an especially fine collection of prints and drawings.
Spanish Riding School
A spectacle unique to Vienna is the performance of the Spanish Riding School's famous white horses. These horses, the Lipizzaners, are trained in a kind of equestrian ballet. The Spanish Riding School is named for the ancient Spanish lineage of its breeding stock. The school was formed in Vienna under the patronage of Austrian emperors, and quickly grew famous for the intelligence and precision of its white stallions. The Spanish Riding School is the greatest institution in the world for the classical training and choreography of horses.
Prater
The Prater is a large public park situated between the inner city and the New Danube. It also lends its name to the Prater amusement park. Among the many rides and games of the Prater is a miniature railway and the giant Ferris wheel made famous by the Orson Welles movie The Third Man . The Prater's giant Ferris wheel was also the scene of a cinematic James Bond escapade in The Living Daylights .
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