Vienna #2of5

In the center of this well defined Innere Stadt (inner city), Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral) is easily identified by the multi-colored roof tiles, that form a zig-zag pattern. The 450 feet high steeple, with 344 steps, is well worth a climb. The inside of the building is extremely ornate and imposing, with a narrow nave flanked by side aisles, and with a diagonally tiled floor. Statues and statue groups embellish the Cathedral. The catacombs contain urns, chapels, and traces of a Romanesque basilica. Stephansdom was completely restored after suffering extensive damage when Vienna was bombed during WW II.

Day after day we walked all over downtown Vienna, and one day we toured the Opera building. High in the back of the auditorium there is an area with railings that people with standing-room-only tickets, can lean against. Many more people can get in that space, than if there were seats. Between Christmas and Easter, there are many special parties in Vienna, the most exclusive is held in the Opera building.

During WW II the Americans bombed Vienna numerous times, and the Opera building was gutted by a fire. Our tour guide at the opera seemed to think it had been unnecessary and done on purpose. I played tennis, many times, with a US Air Force pilot who bombed Vienna, several times. When that pilot visited this building and heard that comment, he pointed out, to the disgust of the guide, when his plane had been hit by anti-aircraft fire, he jettisoned his bombs wherever he was, so he could get back to his base. The bombs fell where they fell.

Another of my tennis partners was born and raised in Vienna, lived there during those bombing raids, and described the horror. He was always amazed that I knew so much about his home town, after just a couple of visits as a tourist.

Located just outside the Ring-Strasse, a few blocks south of the Opera, the beautiful Baroque Church of St. Charles (Karlskirche), was built in the early 1700’s. The inside of the church is oval, has a huge oval dome, and little side chapels. The large pillars near the front door, are modeled on Trajan’s Column in Rome. The guide book says, “Typical Baroque, with its blend of illusionism, light and color.” A perfect example of elaborate ornamentation, impeccably fashioned.