We made the most of today as it was our last day in Vienna, so slight disclaimer- our agenda was packed!
We started out at Schönbrunn, the Hapsburg summer palace just outside of the city. We took a walking tour inside of the palace, and the audio guides we were encouraged to take made the experience so engaging and special. The palace itself, of course, is gorgeous; with the maple, rose, or cherry paneling frequenting the interiors, but understanding the history behind the design of each room (who designed it, what inspired it, what the artwork represented or portrayed, and during what era) helped us understand their stressful and active daily lives. By no means did they delegate power to other court officials!
Once outside, we were able to wander the palace grounds, which are expansive and pruned to perfection. The gardens lead from Schönbrunn to a secondary structure at the top of a hill, past a gorgeous fountain, which is now a beautiful café and viewing station to see the entirety of Vienna.
We then had lunch at the Naschmarkt, where we were given the option (pressured, if I am being accurate) to sample falafel and other delicacies. Although the foods and spices offered in the stalls of the market were not stereotypically Austrian, the experience led us to realize exactly how rich Austria is culturally.
After lunch, we took the U-Bahn to the Belvedere Art Museum, where we saw Gustav Klimpt's famous painting, 'The Kiss', and other works of art dating from the early 1900s during the Jugendstil movement of art. In the Belvedere, there were also other artists and styles in different wings, so all of us split up according to what interested us, which made the experience worthwhile for everyone.
We then had two hours of free time to make our way back to Stephan's Platz and eat dinner, and to just enjoy Vienna and all its beauty for the last night...however, the evening wasn't over! We finished off our time in Vienna by visiting the interactive Mozart museum. The museum featured enlarged instruments and touch screens that taught us about and demonstrated how sound waves work and create the sound we hear, as well as teaching us about the masters of classical music. A highlight of the evening was an improv session in the main room of the second floor.
All in all, an amazing way to finish off our visit to Vienna!
-Charlotte H.
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