VUE

Vienna Vienna is one of those cities that really needs no introduction—think imperial architecture, opera houses, coffee and killer nightlife. Oen thought of as one of Europe's cultural epicenters, it is home to roughly 25 percent of Austria's population. Vienna's appeal puts a real significance on arts and culture (with several free open-air festivals) but in many ways, it feels as though time has stood still in the city—and that's a good thing. Like Graz, the city is extremely safe and has been oen known to many as having one of the highest quality of life ratings in the world. By day, the city is alive with tourists visiting all of Vienna's beautiful architecture ranging from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period. By night, the city has a thriving music scene and nightlife that begs you to let loose and embrace it. In the City With e Ritz-Carlton as my homebase, I first set off to the Vienna State Opera which was originally constructed in 1869 with striking Neo- Renaissance style architecture. One of the world's finest opera companies, you would be remiss to skip a performance while in the city. Elsewhere, Vienna is abound with historic palaces and cathedrals. e first is St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansplatz) which, though it is undergoing some restoration, is still grandiose in its size and scope. Further from the middle of the city are the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace. Perhaps the most exemplary vision of Baroque architecture in Vienna, it was oen thought of in the 18th century as the epitome of court life. In the last few decades, the palace and park became a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Besides the utter beauty of its grounds and build, the most impressive part to me was how long it took to walk the entire property— because you don't really understand its magnitude until your legs are tired. Aer this visit, a day of sightseeing is best capped off (and begun) in any legendary Viennese café—where they claim to have invented the process of coffee filtering in the 15th century. In the winter, you can also visit Wiener Eistraum (Vienna Ice World), a 75,000-square-foot ice skating rink just outside City Hall Square. V U E N J . C O M 148

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