Austria – Places I've Been, Beauty I've Seen

During my second trip to Austria on 2019, I was able to visit Vienna where I felt like a child on Christmas Eve with many toys and not enough time to play with.
Vienna, the world’s capital of classical music holds enough symphony performances to fill your schedule, and that’s what I did!
Every evening I enjoyed music of the heavens in stunning halls built during the nineteen hundreds.
The weather was not the best during a couple days still we enjoyed the beauty of the city under mist and drops. There was so much to see and learn about Vienna home to Mozart, Haydn, Schubert and Strauss.
The richness of Austria from the years of the Habsburgs is reflected in the fine arts, and the classical music culture of Vienna.

Royal gardens between the Upper and Lower Belvedere Palaces, Vienna

Royal gardens between the Upper and Lower Belvedere Palaces, Vienna
Belvedere was built between 1712 and 1723 by Prince Eugene of Savoy, Upper Belvedere

Belvedere was built between 1712 and 1723 by Prince Eugene of Savoy, Upper Belvedere
Upper Belvedere became in 1781 one of the world’s first public museums

Upper Belvedere became in 1781 one of the world’s first public museums
The back entrance to Upper Belvedere

The back entrance to Upper Belvedere
Hall known as Sala Terrena, Upper Belvedere

Hall known as Sala Terrena, Upper Belvedere
Marble Hall, where in 1955 allies signed the treaty which gave back Austria its independence, Belvedere

Marble Hall, where in 1955 allies signed the treaty which gave back Austria its independence, Belvedere
One of the many galleries of Belvedere with permanent renaissance art collections

One of the many galleries of Belvedere with permanent renaissance art collections
“Mary Walking Over Mountains” oil on canvas, by J. Von Fuhrich, Belvedere

“Mary Walking Over Mountains” oil on canvas, by J. Von Fuhrich, Belvedere
Painting which got my attention but sadly I missed the title and author, Belvedere

Painting which got my attention but sadly I missed the title and author, Belvedere
Austria National Museum of Fine Arts, it was built between 1871 and 1891, Vienna

Austria National Museum of Fine Arts, it was built between 1871 and 1891, Vienna
Greek culture greatly influenced the design of the Museum of Fine Arts, Vienna

Greek culture greatly influenced the design of the Museum of Fine Arts, Vienna
Detail on the façade of the Museum of Fine Arts, Vienna

Detail on the façade of the Museum of Fine Arts, Vienna
Museum of Fine Arts, entrance foyer

Museum of Fine Arts, entrance foyer
On to the museum second level, Museum of Fine Arts

On to the museum second level, Museum of Fine Arts
Theseus Sculpture welcomes visitors at the main landing, Museum of Fine Arts

Theseus Sculpture welcomes visitors at the main landing, Museum of Fine Arts
Every corner of the museum is itself a work of art, Museum of Fine Arts

Every corner of the museum is itself a work of art, Museum of Fine Arts
In the rotunda sits the gold and marble museum café. Museum of Fine Arts

In the rotunda sits the gold and marble museum café. Museum of Fine Arts
The traditional pastries were worth a brief wait at the Cupola Café

The traditional pastries were worth a brief wait at the Cupola Café
‘Apotheosis of the Renaissance’ ceiling fresco at the Fine Art Museum

‘Apotheosis of the Renaissance’ ceiling fresco at the Fine Art Museum
‘Habsburg rule in North Africa’ painting at the Fine Art Museum

‘Habsburg rule in North Africa’ painting at the Fine Art Museum
Observe, ponder, relax, and observe again. Fine Art Museum

Observe, ponder, relax, and observe again. Fine Art Museum
St. Stephen Cathedral, oil paint by Rudolf Von Alt in 1832,

St. Stephen Cathedral, oil paint by Rudolf Von Alt in 1832,
St. Stephen Cathedral’s, Vienna, 2019

St. Stephen Cathedral’s, Vienna, 2019
St. Stephen Cathedral was completed in 1160 but restoration continues to present

St. Stephen Cathedral was completed in 1160 but restoration continues to present
The beloved church gets constant care with the cleaning of its limestone walls

The beloved church gets constant care with the cleaning of its limestone walls
St. Stephen Cathedral beautiful vaulted ceiling is 27mt high, Vienna

St. Stephen Cathedral beautiful vaulted ceiling is 27mt high, Vienna
Town Hall is very special for its role in the community

Town Hall is very special for its role in the community
Learning about history of City Hall completed in 1883, Vienna

Learning about history of City Hall completed in 1883, Vienna
Partial view of the 71mt long ballroom located on the second floor of the City Hall

Partial view of the 71mt long ballroom located on the second floor of the City Hall
City Hall Banquet Hall, where the Annual Vienna Festival is held, Vienna

City Hall Banquet Hall, where the Annual Vienna Festival is held, Vienna
The Opera House completed in 1869 was heavily damaged during World War II

The Opera House completed in 1869 was heavily damaged during World War II
Canisters were placed in the city for coin donations, everyone participated in the reconstruction, Vienna.

Canisters were placed in the city for coin donations, everyone participated in the reconstruction, Vienna.
Opera House opened with Mozart's Don Giovanni, Emperor Franz Joseph attended, Vienna

Opera House opened with Mozart's Don Giovanni, Emperor Franz Joseph attended, Vienna
Representations of drama and love decorates the Vienna Opera House

Representations of drama and love decorates the Vienna Opera House
Opera House Auditorium has a capacity for 1700 people

Opera House Auditorium has a capacity for 1700 people
Opera House Stage being set for the evening ballet performance

Opera House Stage being set for the evening ballet performance
Crew’s work is appreciated but applauses won’t be heard as in the evening when the curtains drop.

Crew’s work is appreciated but applauses won’t be heard as in the evening when the curtains drop.
Schonbrunn Palace was summer residence for the Habsburgs until WWI.

Schonbrunn Palace was summer residence for the Habsburgs until WWI.
Schonbrunn Palace is located 12km from Vienna and has over one thousand rooms

Schonbrunn Palace is located 12km from Vienna and has over one thousand rooms
Not a fairytale princess but a model during a photo shooting on the grounds of Schonbrunn Palace

Not a fairytale princess but a model during a photo shooting on the grounds of Schonbrunn Palace
The Schonbrunn Palace retains the beauty and memory of the monarchy.

The Schonbrunn Palace retains the beauty and memory of the monarchy.
A homemade meal, just steps from the hotel in Tyrol, Austria, 1999

A homemade meal, just steps from the hotel in Tyrol, Austria, 1999
Franchesca and I at our last evening in Innsbruck, Austria, 1999

Franchesca and I at our last evening in Innsbruck, Austria, 1999
Innsbruck, Austria, 1999

Innsbruck, Austria, 1999
Schönberg Mountains, Innsbruck, Austria, 1999

Schönberg Mountains, Innsbruck, Austria, 1999
Traveling around the Karwendel Mountains of Austria, 1999

Traveling around the Karwendel Mountains of Austria, 1999
During a lunch stop in the Lechtal Valley of Austria, 1999

During a lunch stop in the Lechtal Valley of Austria, 1999
Students on field trip near Maria Theresa Monument, the female ruler of the Habsburg Monarchy

Students on field trip near Maria Theresa Monument, the female ruler of the Habsburg Monarchy
Despite its age, the trolley is still a great way to get around Vienna

Despite its age, the trolley is still a great way to get around Vienna
Procession leaving Karlskirche Church at Ressel Park which is named after Austrian forester Josef Ressel.

Procession leaving Karlskirche Church at Ressel Park which is named after Austrian forester Josef Ressel.
On our way to Café Raimund for lunch before our visit to the city hall, Vienna, 2019

On our way to Café Raimund for lunch before our visit to the city hall, Vienna, 2019
Street near the Museums Quartier, Vienna, 2019

Street near the Museums Quartier, Vienna, 2019
The corner table was a good spot for lunch and at the Opera House Café, Vienna

The corner table was a good spot for lunch and at the Opera House Café, Vienna
Rathaus Restaurant, opened in 1843, holds original beauty and neighborhood charm

Rathaus Restaurant, opened in 1843, holds original beauty and neighborhood charm
On the way to Saint Stephen Cathedral, Vienna

On the way to Saint Stephen Cathedral, Vienna
Beethoven at the Konzerthaus Music Hall which opened in 1913, Vienna

Beethoven at the Konzerthaus Music Hall which opened in 1913, Vienna
At Konzerthaus Music Hall for Haydn’s performance ‘The Creation’, Vienna 2019

At Konzerthaus Music Hall for Haydn’s performance ‘The Creation’, Vienna 2019
Musikverein Concert Hall was completed in 1869 and is now home to Vienna Philharmonic

Musikverein Concert Hall was completed in 1869 and is now home to Vienna Philharmonic
Mozart Orchestra performing in the Golden Hall of Musikverein, Vienna, 2019

Mozart Orchestra performing in the Golden Hall of Musikverein, Vienna, 2019
Not famous as Mozart or Beethoven but his performance delights many, Vienna

Not famous as Mozart or Beethoven but his performance delights many, Vienna
St. Charles Church was built by the Habsburg emperor after his prayer was answered and the Black Plague left Vienna

St. Charles Church was built by the Habsburg emperor after his prayer was answered and the Black Plague left Vienna
Done playing and crossing the pond, it’s time to go home, my last evening in Vienna

Done playing and crossing the pond, it’s time to go home, my last evening in Vienna