Hofburg Palace and grounds
THE HOFBURG IMPERIAL PALACE
Today we got up early (it's holiday here!) and beat the crowds to the Hofburg Imperial Palace. Now, this palace is really a city....and it's still in use. I could go on and on about the history, but you can read for yourself if you'd like. It's quite fascinating... particularly the switch from religious to secular and all the ruling styles. Anyway, half is free; half is not. We chose to prioritize what we'd do / pay for today and save the rest for individual expeditions based on our own preferences... i.e. the museum of antiquities, papyrus museum, musical instrument museum, Lipizzaner horses, etc., will all wait till later. Here's a bit of a virtual tour for you though... the library was the highlight for me.
Augustine Church - a true gothic church. It was utterly beautiful - photos / video don't do justice at all. We were also treated to a pre-mass rehearsal with choir and organ (video excerpt).
Blurry, but still gives you a sense - looking into the church.
This was a very mournful sculpture to the side... it's huge, bigger-than life, mourning the death of an empress who was assisinated. Even the lion's sad.
A view up to the loft where the choir and organ were located.
Next, we moved into my favorite place here so far... the Hofbibliothek (library). This place was SO out of control. First, it's Baroque all the way, but more importantly it houses supposedly the best library in the world, second only to the Vatican. I mean, it was so amazing to walk through it and just want to reach out and pull some of the books.. you couldn't of course. Below are a few photos I was able to snap. They also had a big display up on Hayden so we got to see his original handwritten scores. Just SO much knowledge and history in one beautiful place... it made me giddy :P
Inside the library's main hall...loads of murals and sculptures.
Slabs with etched writing were all over the place. super cool.
Globe by Vincenzo Coronolli (1600's).. this one is of land / water
Globe by VC (1600's).. this is of sky
The Golden Fleece document - 1400's.
Map of the Roman Empire's postal service (detail) (1324).
I didn't write this down, but it's a prayer book.
Finally, a bit of the grounds and gardens...
Archduke Karl preparing to charge and spar with Prince Eugene of Savoy (you can see him in the distance, also on horseback in front of the Neuburg section of the palace).
Cherubs playing with the trees in the Burggarten.
Mozart in the Burggarten. This was one complex statue... you'd have to see it in person.
See the stones in front of him?
Detail on one side of Mozart.
I'm pretty sure this is Franz Joseph in the Josephplatz.
Empress Elisabeth 'sisi' in the Volksgarten.
Maybe Franz Joseph? not sure. Volksgarten. There's a crazy story being told on the stones around him... a love story involving Medusa i think.
Archduke again.
Goethe, outside the Burggarten.
More statues...
Joseph I, Josephplatz.
Neuburg from Burggarten.
I assume Franz Joseph.
Part of Volksgarten.
Today we got up early (it's holiday here!) and beat the crowds to the Hofburg Imperial Palace. Now, this palace is really a city....and it's still in use. I could go on and on about the history, but you can read for yourself if you'd like. It's quite fascinating... particularly the switch from religious to secular and all the ruling styles. Anyway, half is free; half is not. We chose to prioritize what we'd do / pay for today and save the rest for individual expeditions based on our own preferences... i.e. the museum of antiquities, papyrus museum, musical instrument museum, Lipizzaner horses, etc., will all wait till later. Here's a bit of a virtual tour for you though... the library was the highlight for me.
Augustine Church - a true gothic church. It was utterly beautiful - photos / video don't do justice at all. We were also treated to a pre-mass rehearsal with choir and organ (video excerpt).
Blurry, but still gives you a sense - looking into the church.
This was a very mournful sculpture to the side... it's huge, bigger-than life, mourning the death of an empress who was assisinated. Even the lion's sad.
A view up to the loft where the choir and organ were located.
Next, we moved into my favorite place here so far... the Hofbibliothek (library). This place was SO out of control. First, it's Baroque all the way, but more importantly it houses supposedly the best library in the world, second only to the Vatican. I mean, it was so amazing to walk through it and just want to reach out and pull some of the books.. you couldn't of course. Below are a few photos I was able to snap. They also had a big display up on Hayden so we got to see his original handwritten scores. Just SO much knowledge and history in one beautiful place... it made me giddy :P
Inside the library's main hall...loads of murals and sculptures.
Slabs with etched writing were all over the place. super cool.
Globe by Vincenzo Coronolli (1600's).. this one is of land / water
Globe by VC (1600's).. this is of sky
The Golden Fleece document - 1400's.
Map of the Roman Empire's postal service (detail) (1324).
I didn't write this down, but it's a prayer book.
Finally, a bit of the grounds and gardens...
Archduke Karl preparing to charge and spar with Prince Eugene of Savoy (you can see him in the distance, also on horseback in front of the Neuburg section of the palace).
Cherubs playing with the trees in the Burggarten.
Mozart in the Burggarten. This was one complex statue... you'd have to see it in person.
See the stones in front of him?
Detail on one side of Mozart.
I'm pretty sure this is Franz Joseph in the Josephplatz.
Empress Elisabeth 'sisi' in the Volksgarten.
Maybe Franz Joseph? not sure. Volksgarten. There's a crazy story being told on the stones around him... a love story involving Medusa i think.
Archduke again.
Goethe, outside the Burggarten.
More statues...
Joseph I, Josephplatz.
Neuburg from Burggarten.
I assume Franz Joseph.
Part of Volksgarten.
posted by DOUBLE VISION | 5:24 AM
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