Council of Regional Arts

On the banks of the Danube, Vienna and its population of over 2 million people bask proudly in their cultural heritage. Vienna’s love affair with the arts stretches back centuries and helped make it today, Austria’s number one tourist attraction.

A romantic imperial city, Vienna bears the hallmarks of a capital steeped in history, beautifully contrasted by its modern infrastructure.

A city of music, Vienna was home to some of history’s greatest composers. Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Strauss were all proud to call Vienna their home.

Vienna’s musical heritage has been preserved to the present day. The Vienna Boys Choir is ever popular and the Wiener Philharmoniker remains a world class orchestra.

But it’s not all about classical music. Vienna boasts a vibrant nightlife that compares with the best, catering for folks of all ages, young and old.

Historically a city of culture, Vienna boasts many talents amongst its repertoire. Whatever the time of year, you can be certain the city has plenty to offer.

A theatre break is always a rewarding experience; witness the latest film and dance productions or just sit back and soak up the best of classical opera. A vast array of concerts and exhibitions are held throughout the year.

If you just want to relax and idly watch the world go by then make a beeline for one of Vienna’s many coffee houses. Take the weight off your feet and exchange thoughts of the day with your fellow coffee connoisseurs.

For those in need of something a little stronger, a visit to one of the city’s wine taverns will have you unwinding in no time.

Right through history, Vienna has embraced the world of art and proudly boasts many of its own world famous artists. Through the centuries, kings and queens of Austria were passionate art collectors, rendering Austria – and Vienna in particular – a treasure trove of fine art.

Many of these masterpieces can be seen at the Museum of Fine Arts; a magnificent building exhibiting works from across the world, in particular that of its favourite sons.

Indeed, art and literature feature predominately during Vienna’s history. Underground railway stations designed by Otto Wagner are listed properties; coffee house literature is digested by both young and old.

Wherever you stay in Vienna, historical landmarks are never far, many dating back to medieval times.

Set in beautiful grounds, Belvedere Palace is a magnificent example of Viennese architecture. Designed by the famous Baroque architect Von Hildebrandt, the fabulous palace was originally built for Prince Eugene of Savoy.

Besides their love of the arts, the Viennese love to shop. Markets are scattered throughout Vienna but most popular is the Naschmarkt. Dating back to the 16th century, everything from children’s shoes to apples can be purchased. If you can endure the crowds, bargains are aplenty.

Indulge in the fun and games at the Prater, Vienna’s biggest funfair. If the noise and crowds become too much, escape to the open fields or take a stroll through the adjacent forest and chill out with the wildlife.

For spectacular views of the city head for the Danube Tower, known locally as the Concrete Needle. The tower is over 350 meters high; with your head in the clouds, Vienna never looked so good.

Barcelona is Spain’s second city and the capital of Catalonia in the north of the country. The city is a vibrant metropolis with a great artistic and architectural heritage. Many of the building are art nouveau with many being designed by the avant-garde and occasionally bizarre architect Gaudi, of whom his professor, at his graduation said “I don’t know weather we are graduating a genius or a fool!”

It is a well laid out city with broad streets and wide walkways. The city transport and tourist infrastructure underwent a massive program of improvement and modernization from 1987 to 1992 in preparation for staging the Olympic games, and today that legacy still ensures good quality, plentiful accommodation and good transport links.

The people here seem to have a passion for all things artistic and as such you will find many street artists and performers and, as well as a profusion of the more usual galleries, concert halls, museums and exhibitions. The nightlife is also good, Barcelona is definitely a party city and the streets are generally safe at night although all the usual precautions are still advisable.

The food is generally of a very high standard especially the tapas, selections of different foods such as olives, spicy chorizo sausage etc which is a good reasonably priced option in the bars. Seafood is especially good, as Barcelona is truly Mediterranean city. When eating in restaurants send back anything you didn’t order, those wonderful looking appetizers are not a gift from the kitchen and you will end up paying for them!

Barcelona has a a temperate climate more than hot enough to fulfill most peoples idea of good holiday weather but without the fierce heat of the south that can render the middle of the day useless for anything other than sitting in a (preferably air-conditioned) hotel room.

Must see highlights:

Museu Picasso: On Carra Montcada the museum houses a large collection of Picasso’s work especially his rose and blue periods and the later cubist variations, and also his engravings pottery sculpture and lithograph he was a very busy man! The museum is housed in two adjoining medieval palaces.

The Rambla: A mile long walkway built over the remains of a dried up riverbed. A bi touristy but usually populated with street performers and artists. A great place for an evening promenade or an afternoon coffee at one of the many outdoor cafes, but in crowded parts keep you hands on your wallet.

Museu de Geologia: The oldest museum in Barcelona and since 1882 has been home to a large and fascinating collection of paleontology and geological exhibits go on the first Sunday of the month when admission is free.

Tibidabo: The summit of the hill Collserola arrive by the tramvia blau to la Atalaya (the old watchtower) for a stunning view of the city, also at the top are a nineteenth centuary amusement park and a mechanical museum.

Catedral: Work originally started on the construction of this beautiful gothic cathedral in 1298 on the site of a 1st centaury chapel the central spire was added as late as 1913.The elaborate and decorative chorus should not be missed.

L’Aquarium de Barcelona: Situated on the waterfront this transparent aquarium is one of the largest (if not the largest) in Europe. It has a large collection of marine life from all over the world and especially the Mediterranean.
You can walk through a transparent tunnel while the sharks move menacingly above your head.

Museu Temple de la Segrada familia: A museum dedicated to Gaudi’s great unfinished masterpiece. A wonderful opportunity to see a great work of art in construction. Take the lift up the tower to get a good overview of the scale of the project.

Barcelona people are generally friendly and helpful to tourists but don’t be surprise if your guide book Spanish are not as popular as you thought here as although the locals speak Spanish the real language is Catalan. Barcelona has all the ingredients for a good holiday. Good food, good weather,
Great culture and wonderful people, A week there will always be a week well spent.

Together with hand-lettered manuscripts, gold artifacts, and other stone carvings, they form the world’s finest collection of Medieval art. Periodic medieval poetry readings and concerts held at the museum are a special treat. …

Timothy Bates Husband is Curator, Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Tags: 0300136714, Books, Buy The Art of Illumination: The Limbourg Brothers and the “Belles Heures” of Jean de France, …

Nothing foreshadows the contemporary attitude to art so much as the medieval Christian veneration of relics. And it’s a corollary of the self-awareness of contemporary artists that some at least should also realize that they are …