Round The World and other travel

June 2016: Vienna

Just eight months after Bruce and I last visited, the City of Dreams was calling again! This latest trip took place in beautiful early-summer weather. Although we only spent one full day in town, the three main activities all managed to take familiar locations and present them from a fresh, new perspective.

Austrian Parliament

One of the most prominent structures on Vienna's famous Ringstraße is the Austrian Parliament building. Dating from the late 19th century, its striking Greek Revival architecture draws many tourists, many of whom like to stop and be photographed posing beside the Athena fountain, in front of the main entrance. The building houses both of the parliament's chambers, as well as the former House of Deputies - a grand and dignified assembly space that is now used for presidential inaugurations and other state occasions. We were lucky enough to be able to join a public tour just as it was on the point of leaving.

Museums Quarter

The Museumsquartier is a large, mixed-use cultural complex situated on the first main road outside the southwest section of the Ringstraße, in central Vienna. It is an unusual blend of Baroque and modern architecture. We visited 'Mumok' (full name: Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien), one of the largest museums of modern art in Europe.

				LEFT: Situated adjacent to the Museums Quarter, but not actually part of it, are the well known Ringstraße twins, the Natural History Museum and the History of Art Museum.

Regenbogenparade

The City of Vienna has been making significant efforts in recent years to refresh its image, which many had come to regard as being overly staid and conservative. A prime example of the makeover is the degree of official backing for the annual Regenbogenparade (literally 'rainbow parade', but better known in the English-speaking world as Vienna Pride).