Vienna

Vienna is the capital of Austria and one of its federal states. It is the largest city and the political, cultural and economic center of the country. Built at an altitude of 170 meters above the surface of the sea, between the Danube to the east and wooded hills to the west, is one of the most important ports of the Danube, as it is located on the intersection of two major natural waterways of Central Europe. It is a city which combines imperial tradition with modern rhythms, while a significant economic factor for the city is tourism, as Vienna with the great works of art, monuments and museums is an attraction for many tourists.

The city was founded first as a celtic settlement around 500 B.C.. In 15 B.C., Vienna was a border town by the name of Vindobona (Vindóbona), with the purpose of guarding the northern borders of the Roman empire against the German tribes of the North. During the middle Ages, Vienna was the base of the dynasty of Babenberg and in 1440 became the base of the dynasty of Habsburg (Habsburg), and eventually became the capital of the Holy Roman Empire and cultural center for the arts, the sciences and music. In the 16th and 17th century, the Ottoman empire stopped conquering outside of Vienna. In 1805, the city became the capital of the Austrian Empire and played an important role in european and global politics. In 1938 it was annexed to Nazi Germany, while at the end of World War II, lost its status as capital from Berlin. In 1945, the Soviets captured the city from the Germans and Vienna was again the capital of Austria.

Cathedral of St. Stephen: the church dominates the centre of the city and sparks the interest with the medieval aura, the architecture and the view from above. It is the main church and base of the archbishop of Vienna, which was built in 1160 on the ruins of two previous churches.

Vienna state Opera: The Vienna State Opera is one of the most famous and oldest opera houses in the world. Built in 1869, is a new Renaissance building, which was not particularly popular. When a large part of the building was destroyed by a bomb, residents identified it as a sign and rebuilt the hall and the stage, with the result that today it is one of the most active operas.

Belvedere palace: The palace is located at the southeastern edge of the city centre and is an iconic point for the history of the country. The history of the Belvedere begins in 1697, while inside you will find a large collection of works of art, paintings and sculptures from the top of the genre.

Theme Park Prater Is a large public park in the district of Leopoldstadt in the northeast of the city. In a corner of the park Prater is an amusement park called the Wurstelprater, at the entrance of which you will find the famous tourist attraction Riesenrad, which was built in 1896 and is a huge ferris wheel height of 200 meters.

Imperial palaces of the Hofburg (Hofburg) and Schönbrunn (Schönbrunn ): Essential is the visit to the two palaces, the winter Ηofburg and the summer Schönbrunn Palace (Schonbrunn), that were used as a residence by Francis Joseph with his wife, empress Sissi. In these two palaces the life of the emperors of the dynasty of the Habsburgs who ruled for 600 years is imprinted.

Museums: The city offers a huge variety of remarkable museums, which are worth to visit. Some of them are: Museum of the History of Art, which was founded in 1891 and is one of the oldest museums of Fine Arts and the decorative arts in the world. The Museum Quarter, a complex in which you will find from classic art museums up venues for film presentation, theatre, architecture and dance. The Albertina Museum, which is in possession of approximately 60,000 paintings. And the Natural History Museum, which opened in 1889.

The austrian cuisine is influenced by the multinational empire of the Habsburgs, which resulted in the creation of characteristic dishes, such as schnitzel in the Italian north, the Hungarian goulash, and bavarian sausages. The main ingredient is beef, in different variations, as well as the asparagus and the peppers. You will have to try the national dish of Vienna, the wiener schnitzel breaded with veal schnitzel, Kasespätzle pasta with egg, soup, goulash with venison and boiled potatoes and the Gröstl with pork and egg. The cake Sachertorte is world famous with chocolate and jam, while we have to try and apple strudels. A big part of everyday life in Vienna, is the tradition of coffee shops that started from the 17th century. Today, the Vienna cafés with a special atmosphere, continue to assemble an elite clientele. The most historical cafes are mainly Cafe Griensteidl and the Cafe Central.

Although the city dominates the classical music, there is no shortage of modern rhythms and sounds that come out of the bar and the club. In Vienna, even the street artists have studied classical music and is justifiably considered to be the capital of electronic music and the city of the famous Djs. Nightclubs are scattered throughout the city, while the youth of the city has to choose from discos and clubs with live music, as well as in jazz clubs and in the austrian taverns, where the wine and beer flowing abundantly.

Time zone: One hour behind Greece

Currency: Euro

Dialling Code: +43 (1)