Vienna is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. And indeed, in this city just a huge number of different palaces, temples, galleries and architectural monuments. And historical breathing is felt almost on every street of Vienna.
And start sighting sights I would recommend precisely from one of the streets - Blutgasse . In fact, it is a small street consisting of several vintage houses and is known as the Blutgasse district (Blutgasse), and part-time is the most painful region of Vienna. Street is behind the Cathedral of St. Stephen. Usually it is not very quiet here. For the sake of a joke on the walls of the streets, small mirrors were smelled with funny applications (for example, a mustache and beard). But with all this "Blut" in German means "blood" and is now reliably unknown why such a bloody name is carrying the area. True, the legend, according to which it is believed that the Knights-Templars were killed here when their order ceased to exist at the beginning of the XIV century. Although it is nothing more than version, as this street was then called quite differently (Mud Lane).
Blutgass Street rests on another, no less remarkable street - DOMGASSE (Domgasse) . And it is noteworthy that here in the house number 5 from 1784 to 1787 lived and the great composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart worked and worked. And it was here that Mozart wrote his world famous opera "Marriage Figaro". More recently, in this house there was a serious (and expensive) reconstruction. After that, the Mozart House Museum was opened in Vienna (Mozarthaus). The entrance to the museum costs 10 euros, for groups over 12 people cheaper (but I do not remember how much). The museum consists of four (or even five) floors. The exposition is huge and very interesting, reveals not only the Vienna stage of the composer biography, but also the whole life path. When entering you, you will be given an electronic guidebook by clicking on the desired buttons of which you can learn a lot of interesting things about Mozart and his work. Travel guides are in Russian. On the first floor, at the exit there is a souvenir shop. The proposed products are very unusual, you can only buy a lot here, in the house of Mozart.
After the Mozart Museum logically go directly to Cathedral of St. Stephen . Local residents call the cathedral gentle "Shtefi", i.e. Little Stephen. Although in its size this cathedral, of course, is not at all small. This, if you can say, gothic pearl veins. Indeed, the outer decoration of the temple is just fantastic. It makes no sense to describe everything, it needs to see with your own eyes! A cathedral was built in the XII century, but only a strict facade with the giants portal was preserved from the initial building. Strong destruction caused bombing of the 1945th year, when the fire almost turned everything into the ash region. Including a gorgeous colored tiled roof with a huge double-headed eagle was destroyed. She still looks amazing, but it is no longer the original ...
Be sure to go inside (admission is free). There is not very bright lighting there, I would even say twilight. But the magnificence of the interior is not becoming smaller: marble columns, screw staircases, organs, beautiful stained glass windows, rich tombstones (including the tomb of the Emperor Friedrich III). This masterpiece is the Gothic Department, made in the early XVI century. Also in the Cathedral, the altar was preserved from a carved and painted tree, in the center of which Mary with a baby depicted, and on the sides - the "earthly life of the Virgin Mary". And the remains of the Great Austrian Commander, Prince Evgenia Savoysky, rest in the chapel. His sarcophagus is decorated with the names of the coat of arms made of gilded bronze. In general, a peaceful place. By the way, it is difficult to photograph outside, as other buildings are closely.
Interesting moment. If you set on the GPS navigator in Vienna as the destination "Center of the city", then it will lead to you precisely to the Cathedral of St. Stephen.
Next, I propose to continue my way on a wide pedestrian street in the direction of Opernring Street. There are many shops, the choice of products is large and designed for a different wallet. But do not get carried away, otherwise, instead of sightseeing, go to Shopping ... Turn right to one of the streets (Cathedral of St. Sustafan behind you) and get to the huge area of Neuer Markf. Here is a beautifully decorated fountain. We saw him in March when he was without water. But had the opportunity to look at all the figures, including those that would be hidden under water.
Returning back to the Promenade, will continue the way. And just a few hundred meters on the left will see Maltese Church (Malteserkirche) . Built at the beginning of the XIX century. Cute building with a characteristic Maltese cross on the facade. I did not go inside, since the goal was another building.
Ahead - State Vienna Opera (Staatsoper) part-time from the leading opera theaters of the world. Located on Opernring Street, 2. The building was built in the style of the French Renaissance, and was open in 1869. The bombing of the 1945 allies was almost completely destroyed. But after the war, the Austrians rebuilt the Opera House and returned to him the former magnificence. Although an externally, the opera building is unlikely to be called a masterpiece of architecture, but it looks in general beautifully.
Very beautiful inner decoration of the theater. I personally believe that every guest of Vienna is simply obliged to visit any presentation (opera or ballet). Also traditional is the annual ball in the opera in the last Thursday of Maslenitsa. There is an opportunity to get inside and in another way, as they spend excursions on the theater. Before the building of the Vienna Opera there is an alley of stars, where you can "meet" a lot of opera singers on the whole world.
And separately, I note one venicle attraction. Right opposite the Opera Theater is world famous Cafe "Zaher" (Cafe Sacher) . Visitors of this institution are simply a stunning view of the Vienna Opera. "Zaher" is one of the oldest cafes in the city and the most visited today. If you arrive in a vein in spring or summer, you can personally make sure that. Just in the cafe can only get the most persistent, as you first need to stand in the queue in anticipation of the free table. What is necessary to order, so this is a real Viennese coffee. But the most famous dish, which is suggested here is the SacheR-Torte cake, which is currently the source of not only the glory of the cafe, but also decent income. A secret is that the recipe of this cake is a family secret that intend to keep forever. And so you can learn the taste of this SacheR-Torte, only having visited the cafe "Zaher" in Vienna.
I note that this is only a brief excursion in the center of the capital of Austria within a radius of only 4-5 quarters. Therefore, the description of the landmarks of Vienna could take a lot of space and time.
I almost forgot something else. In the underground transition near the opera theater there is an interesting, if so you can say, institution. Called Opera Toilet. Very creative idea. There all the time opened by opera music, so that visitors were nice. Funny, I tell you.
