St. Stephen’ s Cathedral Interior Photo: WienTourismus / Daniela Stallinger
DO & CO, Stephansplatz Photo: WienTourismus / Peter Rigaud
BELVEDERE PALACE
Draped in glittering gold and bright flowers, the laurel-crowned lover presses his tender lips on the blushing cheek of his paramour, who wilts beneath in passionate surrender. The image in Gustav Klimt’ s The Kiss remains as provocative as ever, as evidenced by the couples stealing their own before its gaze. Hung in the Belvedere Palace, the early 18th-century summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, it shares walls space with masterworks by Egon Schiele, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and many others. The palace itself is a work of art, oozing with Rococo charm inside and out, from the
Marble Hall to the cascading fountains and Baroque statuary in the tiered gardens.
CANDLE LIGHT DINNER IN RIESENRAD FERRIS WHEEL
Orson Welles may have had sinister plans when he stepped onto this 19th-century Ferris Wheel in the famous scene from The Third Man, but the main goal for those entering the fully enclosed red compartments today for a 15-minute spin is to embrace the views of Vienna’ s old town, river, and surrounding forests. It glitters even more during a candle-lit“ Romantic Crystal Dinner” inside a private Swarovski crystal-lined cabin. The three-course meal comes with a selection of Viennese classics and plenty of wine to toast to love. Be sure to arrive at least an hour early though to enjoy a stroll through the Riesenrad’ s home, the Prater. The former hunting grounds of the Hapsburgs, it’ s now one of Vienna’ s favorite places for a quiet stroll or mechanized excitement on the rollercoaster, flying swing, or planetarium.
WALTZ DANCING COURSE AT PRIVATE DANCE ACADEMY
Refined in the suburbs of Vienna from old Austrian folk dances, the waltz caught fire throughout Europe in the late 18th century for its graceful movements, scandalous coupling, enlivening rhythm, and ease of instruction.
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