Friday was a day full of sights and sight-seeing. The weather remained set fair.
We started at the Karlskirche, the interior a vision in white and gold. Above the altar, a great swirl of baroque clouds carries St Carl up to heaven.
However, even more memorable was the ascent to the dome. In 2002 repair work necessitated scaffolding and a lift right up into the dome. That's fifteen years ago and it is still there. The astute Viennese realised that charging tourists to go up in the lift could fund all sorts of other repairs to the church fabric. A clever idea.
We went up in the lift to a solid platform at the base of the dome.
Then it was up seven flights of stairs at eye-level with the frescoes.
At last, one emerges into the open-air outside the dome, to a panorama of the city. A thrilling experience.
Just down the street, we arrived at the Secession Building, a surprising construction dating from the Jugendstil period in the early 1900s.
Yes, that is a dome constructed of open work gilded laurel leaves. What else could it be?
Out along the street was a busy market, full of brilliant colour. We drank coffee at a pavement café, admiring the exteriors of the Wagner House.
On to the Stephansdom, the cathedral of Vienna, where I took a lift up to the viewpoint.
After lunch, it was on again, to the Museum of Applied Art, which houses a collection of Arts and Crafts and Jugendstil furniture and objects.
By this time we were beginning to flag. In Vienna, this means time for a Jause, or snack of coffee and cake. We headed for the Café Sacher where we sampled the Sacher torte and a piece of Apfelstrudel for good measure.
And it was still only tea-time.
We started at the Karlskirche, the interior a vision in white and gold. Above the altar, a great swirl of baroque clouds carries St Carl up to heaven.
However, even more memorable was the ascent to the dome. In 2002 repair work necessitated scaffolding and a lift right up into the dome. That's fifteen years ago and it is still there. The astute Viennese realised that charging tourists to go up in the lift could fund all sorts of other repairs to the church fabric. A clever idea.
We went up in the lift to a solid platform at the base of the dome.
Then it was up seven flights of stairs at eye-level with the frescoes.
At last, one emerges into the open-air outside the dome, to a panorama of the city. A thrilling experience.
Just down the street, we arrived at the Secession Building, a surprising construction dating from the Jugendstil period in the early 1900s.
Yes, that is a dome constructed of open work gilded laurel leaves. What else could it be?
Out along the street was a busy market, full of brilliant colour. We drank coffee at a pavement café, admiring the exteriors of the Wagner House.
On to the Stephansdom, the cathedral of Vienna, where I took a lift up to the viewpoint.
By this time we were beginning to flag. In Vienna, this means time for a Jause, or snack of coffee and cake. We headed for the Café Sacher where we sampled the Sacher torte and a piece of Apfelstrudel for good measure.
And it was still only tea-time.
.JPG)
1 comment:
That chocolate torte looks divine!
Post a Comment