MARCH 2017 - VIENNA IN SPRING

A birthday-cum-mother's day outing to Vienna for a few days, with a self-catering apartment just along from the action at the Stephansdom. 

and the 69ft Pestsaule ("Plague Column").  Estimates of the death toll of the 1679 Great Plague of Vienna range from 12,000 to 75,000; the city was a trade crossroads and the crowds and dense housing made it ripe for contagion.  This elaborate Baroque column was erected in 1693). 

We took a taxi to visit the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Schönbrunn Palace  

After visiting the apartments, outside to the gardens, climbing to the Gloriette monument, 

 

giving excellent views of palace and town behind. 

The walk certainly justified a coffee-and-cake break...

 
Next day, we took a tour of the Parliament

You can that tell the architect had been working in Athens; this was certainly inspired by the Acropolis

complete with statue of Athena

The theme coninues inside (including the main chamber), and much marble and fresco-work

 

From within the Pariliament courtyard, you can see the Neues Rathaus

almost next door

which apparently contains the biggest room in Austria.

Another coffee break and onward to a last stop at the Votivkirche, by Sigmund Freud park.

Last day - to the splendid Hofburg 

for the Hapsburg State Apartments and treasuries.
 

It's just a saunter to the equally impressive Kunsthistorisches Museum (opposite to the splendid domed Naturhistriches 

 

 

- the cafe also affords a good view)

where we admire corrisors and the dome, as well as the galleries themselves

before hailing a cab back to the airport, and home...