Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
•BeginatthesquareoutsideVienna'slandmarkOperaHouse.(TheentrancefacestheRing-
strasse; we're starting at the busy pedestrian square that's to the right of the entrance as
you're facing it.)
Opera House
If Vienna is the world capital of classical music, this building is its throne room, one of
the planet's premier houses of music. It's typical of Vienna's 19th-century buildings in that
it features a revival style—Neo-Renaissance—with arched windows, half-columns, and the
sloping, copper mansard roof typical of French Renaissance
châteaux
.
Since the structure was built in 1869, almost all of the opera world's luminaries have
passed through here. Its former musical directors include Gustav Mahler, Herbert von Kara-
jan,andRichardStrauss.LucianoPavarotti,MariaCallas,PlacidoDomingo,andmanyother
greats have sung from its stage.
In the pavement along the side of the Opera (and all along Kärntner Strasse, the bustling
shopping street we'll visit shortly), you'll find star plaques forming a Hollywood-style walk
of fame. These represent the stars of classical music—famous composers, singers, musi-
cians, and conductors.
Looking up at the Opera, notice the giant outdoor screen onto which some live perform-
ances are projected (as noted in the posted schedules).
If you're a fan, take a guided tour of the Opera. If you're not, you still might consider
springing for an evening performance (standing-room tickets are surprisingly cheap; see
here
). Regular opera tickets are sold at various points near here: The closest ticket office is
the small one just below the screen, while the main one is on the other side of the building,
across the street on Operngasse. For information about other entertainment options during
your visit, check in at the Wien Ticket kiosk in the booth on this square.
TheOperaHousemarksabusyintersection inVienna, whereKärntner Strasse meets the
Ring. The Karlsplatz U-Bahn station in front of the Opera is an underground shopping mall
with fast food, newsstands, and lots of pickpockets.
• Walk behind the Opera and across the street toward the dark-red awning to find the fam-
ous...
Café Sacher
This is the home of the world's classiest chocolate cake, the Sacher-Torte: two layers of
cake separated by apricot jam and covered in dark-chocolate icing, usually served with
whipped cream. It was invented in a fit of improvisation in 1832 by Franz Sacher, dessert
cheftoPrinceMetternich(themasterminddiplomatwhoredrewthemapofpost-Napoleonic
Europe). The cake became world famous when the inventor's son served it next door at his
