Flowers in Cans #2

Flowers in cans at the window of a Spanish restaurant in the city center. Click here for another photo of this window taken two years ago.

Flags

Flags at the entrance to the Hofburg Congress Center.

Too Cold to Sit Outside .... Again

Hello spring, what´s wrong with you? You´re supposed to be sunny and warm, especially at the end of May! Please stop to be like autumn!

Hotel Windows

During one of my recent walks in the city center the windows of the 5* hotel Vienna Marriott caught my eyes again. Please click here for another photo.

Temporary Memorial

With the installation "Faggot" on  Morzinplatz, the Austrian artist Jakob Lena Knebl presents a temporary memorial to the homosexuals, lesbians, and trans-gender persons persecuted and murdered under the Nazi regime. She deliberately relies on discriminating terms such as “schwule Sau” (faggot) or “Mannweib” (bulldagger) used disparagingly and deprecatorily in everyday language and turns herself and her body into an exhibition and projection surface.

Sunday Flowers #75

“Flowers are the Romeos and the Juliets of the nature!” - Mehmet Murat İldan

Façade Detail #25

This painting on the façade of a gothic middle-class house in the city center dates back to the first half of the16th century and was rediscovered in 1978/79. It shows a cow with glasses and a wolf playing a board game together.

The Russian Orthodox Cathedral

The Russian Orthodox Cathedral was built from 1893 until 1899 for the Russian community in Vienna and is dedicated to St. Nicolas and Alexander Newskij. The architect Gregorij Kotov designed it in the style of an authentic Russian Orthodox church.
Tonight is the "Long Night of the Churches", an annual ecumenical project throughout Austria which offers a free look at many churches, cathedrals and monasteries. It also presents a comprehensive programme of free religious concerts, acitivities and events.

Citrus Fruits

A basket of different citrus fruits at the "13th Vienna Citrus Days" at the Schönbrunn Orangery.

Vienna Citrus Days

Last weekend the "13th Vienna Citrus Days" took place at the Schönbrunn Orangery and this time I finally made it there. The information and sales exhibition presented a historic collection of citrus trees, the program also included tastings of culinary specialties, guided tours and lectures. It was really interesting to see how many different kinds of citrus fruits exist.

Pink Staircase

To enter the exhibition of urban art (for photos please click here and here) in the basement of Kinsky Palace visitors had to go down this pink lit staircase.

Urban Art Exhibition #2

Here´s another work of the urban art exhibition "Escape the Golden Cage" at Kinsky Palace: "Transformer VI (Tower)" by XOOOOX.

Sunday Flowers #74

"Perfumes are the feelings of flowers." - Heinrich Heine

Urban Art Exhibition #1

"Escape the Golden Cage", an exhibition of urban art, currently takes place in the basement of Kinsky Palace in the city center. The presented works are inspired by street art, graffiti and the urban life. The exhibition runs through May, 31; the admission is free. The two paintings in this photo by Ellannah Sadkin are entitled "Sylvester and Tweetie" and "Pinky and the Brain".

Lower Belvedere - The Marble Gallery

The trophies of war stuccoed onto the walls of the Marble Gallery refer to the military successes of Prince Eugen of Savoy, whose apotheosis is presented in the stucco relief on the ceiling: He is enthroned well armed in centerfield and receives awards, whereas hatred and envy are dispelled from peace.

Lower Belvedere - The Gold Cabinet

Originally this was a conversation room with wall covering made of silk painted with trees branches and birds. Under Empress Maria Theresia the room was transformed into a gold cabinet (or mirror and porcelain cabinet). It is assumed that the gold cabinet presented itself with its new appearance in 1765.

Lower Belvedere

The Lower Belvedere was constructed from 1712 until 1716 for Prince Eugene of Savoy and designed by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, one of the most important Austrian baroque architects. The Lower Belvedere served as a residential palace whereas the Upper Belvedere served for representative purposes in particular. Besides this, the Lower Belvedere also held parts of the princes’ collections. Today it houses special exhibtions of the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere.

Ferryman

The bronze sculpture "Ferryman" (1997) by the British artist Tony Cragg is located in front of the Austrian Post Savings Bank (Österreichische Postsparkasse) building.

Österreichische Postsparkasse

The Austrian Post Savings Bank (Österreichische Postsparkasse) building is a famous Jugendstil building, designed by Austrian architect Otto Wagner and constructed between 1904 and 1906. It occupies an entire city block and is regarded as an important early work of modern architecture. The entire façade is covered with square marble plates, these are attached to the main brick structure with mortar and ornamented with iron bolts with aluminium caps, which themselves form a pattern. The architect kept the design very minimalistic and simple, his aim was to convey the sense of a strong, impenetrable bank in which customers would know their money was safe. Only at the upper part of the exterior Wagner added more elaborated ornaments, such as statues of female angels holding laurels in both hands. Nowadays a part of the the building is used as museum (Wagner:Werk - Museum Postsparkasse).

Sweet Sunday #15

Today we are celebrating Mother´s Day. Mothers with a sweet tooth will surely be glad to be presented with some cupcakes.

Sunny Holiday

As I told you already Thursday was a holiday (Ascension), and as the weather was rather summerly, everybody was out and about. I took this photo in the Stadtpark where every lawn was occupied by people sunbathing, making picnics, reading, people-watching...

Façade Detail #24

Caryatids and a small balcony on the façade of a building in the city center.

Enjoying The Sun

Today is holiday (Ascension) and the weather is warm and sunny. I´m sure the outdoor areas of the cafés and restaurants will be crowded today - like last Saturday when I took this photo on Franziskanerplatz in the city center.

Palais Ferstel #7

The Palais Ferstel, created by Austrian architect Heinrich von Ferstel between 1856 and 1860, nowadays houses a very elegant shopping arcade.

Tables & Chairs... Once Again

According to the weather forecast today will be a rainy and not paticularly warm day - the perfect excuse to publish another photo of deserted tables and chairs ;-) I love these bright colours! You have seen these tables/chairs already here and here.

Overgrown Façade

An overgrown façade in the city center.

Sunday Flowers #73

"Flowers don't worry about how they're going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful. " - Jim Carrey

Antiques & Second Hand

Last autumn I discovered this antiques and second hand furniture shop in the 6th district. Yesterday I passed by another time and finally there were some pieces of furniture outside that I could photograph.

Red Reflections

Browsing my hard disk, I stumbled upon this photo taken two years ago in the garden of a friend of mine in Lower Austria. Sometimes I try to be artsy...

Café Kandinsky

I discovered the "Café Kandinsky" some weeks ago, it is located in a courtyard in the 7th district and affiliated to a gallery. I love the eye-catching posters on both sides of the door.

Balcony #9

It´s the season to enjoy balconies and terraces again! I discovered this small balcony in the 3rd district, the lantern and the olive tree caught my eyes.