The Imperial Apartments

There are 24 rooms in the apartments occupied by Emperor Franz Joseph and Sisi. They include studies, private living quarters, and reception rooms.

Audience Waiting Room

Sisi's Large Salon

Audience Chamber

The Study

The Dining Room

The Small Salon

Sisi's Bedroom

Sisi's Dressing Room

Sisi's Bathroom

Sisi Museum

Empress Elisabeth (1837-1898) was Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary from her marriage to Franz Joseph I at 16. She was affectionately known as Sisi. She had four children. Her only son, Rudolf, took his own life at the age of 30 and she was assassinated in 1898. The objects on display here afford fascinating insights into the official and private lives of Sisi. Sisi kept her hair long and was famous for her tiny waist.

Franz Joseph I

Sisi's corset for her tiny waist

Hofburg Vienna

The Vienna Hofburg was the residence of the Austrian sovereigns for over 600 years. It was built in the 13th century and expanded several times. It was from here that the Habsburgs reigned from the 13th century as Rulers of Austria. In 1452 as they became the Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire and finally as Emperors of Austria from 1806 till the end of the monarchy in 1918. It served as the imperial winter residence, as Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence. It has been the official residence and workplace of the president of Austria since 1946. It is now a World Heritage Site.

Spanish Riding School

Zum Figlmuller

We had planned to eat here when we were preparing our trip to Vienna. This place is so popular that we had to book our time slot way in advance. Their schnitzel has become a symbol of Vienna.

Habiscus Mint Spritzer

Original Figlmüller Schnitzel

Austrian potato salad with white carbage and red leaf lettuce

Austrian potato salad with lamb lettuce

Butter rice

The Best Places to Visit : Vatican Museum

We would name the Vatican Museums in Rome as another of our Best Places to Visit. We feel blessed to have had the opportunity to visit them twice, and we will definitely return when we travel to Rome again in May 2027. The magnificent Sistine Chapel is where papal conclaves are held to elect a new pope. Its artworks reflect two distinct periods in Michelangelo’s life: the ceiling, painted earlier in his career, and The Last Judgment, completed more than two decades later. Equally impressive are the Raphael Rooms, which contain some of Raphael’s greatest masterpieces. Two of Italy’s greatest artists have left their mark on the Vatican.(https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-sistine-chapel.html) and (https://slsongtravel.blogspot.com/2013/12/raphael-rooms.html)

Vienna Stephansplatz

Stephansplatz is a square surrrounding St Stephen's Cathedral. We made our way from here to Zum Figlmuller for lunch.

Mozart Monument

Another Mozart Monument

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe