Vienna Austria

Kirlskirche - Frescos

Spanish Riding School

Stephansdom

Kirlskirche: This church was having the frescos restored in the central dome. A construction elevator was setup in the center of the church and they were allowing tourists to ride up and view the frescos at the top. This was a great opportunity as you will no longer be able to access the top once the restoration is complete and the elevator has been removed.

The frescos are so different up close. We were so close, we could have touched them. These are some pictures of the frescos close up. It was really amazing seeing the highlights in the painting that make things stand out at a distance.

It was here we ran into the same ladies we had met the day before at the top of Stephansdom. We talked with them some more and exchanged email addresses. They were from Schweinfurt, a small town close to Wurzburg Germany, where Chris and I have visited several year before. We have already exchanged a few emails will them. They would like us to visit them if we are in the area. It's nice to meet people on our vacations from different countries. Hopefully we will stay in contact.

Spanish Riding School: We planned our trip so we could attend one of the Spanish Riding School shows featuring the Lipizzaner Horses. We made our reservations before we left, which worked out perfectly. We walked to the ticket window and our passes were waiting for us. You must reserve the show in advance as they completely sell out. They do not allow photos after the show starts, so the photos you see below of the horses were taken from other internet sites to give you an example of how the horses perform. It was very impressive watching how they have trained the horses to walk, run and jump.

Stephansdom: Situated in the center of Vienna, the Stephansdom is the soul of the city itself. A church has stood on the site for over 800 years, but all that remains of the original 13th century Romanesque church are the Giant' Doorway and Heathen Towers. The Gothic nave, choir and side chapels are the result of the rebuilding program in the 14th and 15th centuries, while some of the outbuildings, such as the Lower Vestry, are Baroque additions.

Below the church are the catacombs containing old coffins and bones from victims of the plague. This was very interesting walking through this area and it is something that should not be missed.

The roof is tiled with a quarter of a million glazed tiles making interesting desings.

Master craftsman Anton Pilgram left a portrait of himself holding a square and compass, below the corbel of the original organ.

The Pummerin Bell hangs in the North Tower, known as the Pummerin or 'Boomer', is a potent symbol for the symbol reflecting Vienna's turbulent past. The original bell was made from melted-down cannons abandoned when the Turks fled Vienna in 1683. The bell crashed down through the roof in 1945 when a fire swept through the Stephansdom, so a new and even larger bell was cast using the remains of the old.

Horse and buggies line up here for romantic rides through the city.

This is where we met the two women from Germany; by the giant bell. They asked us to take a photo of them, and I asked were they were from and we started talking.

<<< Previous Page Home >>>