Ringstrasse and Nearby Architecture

     In Vienna's center, there's a beautifully paved road lined with monumental architectures and rows of green trees known as the Ringstrasse, or the Ring. This circular road marks Vienna's center and the rest of the city grows from that point, ring after ring. The reason why the city's urban planning follows the RIng traces back to 1848 when Franz Josef I, the newly crowned emperor who was at the peak of his power, decided to overhaul the medieval city and reconstruct the city. Although defining the effort as an act of modernization, the buildings on the Ring are either of the High Renaissance or neo-blank (e.g. neogothic, neobaroque, and neorococo) style; it wasn't until the rise of the Jugendstil and the Secession did true "modern" style, a new style that is removed from traditional arts and addresses the new, collective psyche,  develop. 

1. Votivkirche: Votive Church, finished in 1879, Gothic style.
2. Rathaus: The City Hall is constructed in 1872, neo-Gothic style. During my summer stay, there was the Musikfilm Festival (July & August), which featured operas, operettas, and concerts in the Rathausplatz (the square in front of the City Hall). In addition to the good music that began after dusk, there were booths serving food and drinks. Although we didn't understand German, the nightly outings were great fun. In addition to the mundane options of either stay at home or go clubbing, we can opt for the novel alternative of attending an outdoor concert (something cultural) with good companies (hehe, meaning both my friends + delicious snacks + wine). 
3. Parlament: Across from the City Hall is the Parlament (neo-classical). The Grecian architecture and the statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, are perfect (since Greece is the home of democracy).
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Naturhistorisches Museum & Kunsthirstorisches Museum: The museums, both in neo-Renaissance style, are situated across from each other. The identical exteriors exude a sense of majestic grandeur. I highly recommend visiting the National Art Museum; it showcases an extensive collection of arts that ranges from Egyptian to Renaissance paintings and sculptures.
   
   
   
5. Majolkahaus: On the way to the Naschmarkt, the local market, you will run into two apartments designed by Otto Wagner in 1899. The buildings are decorated in the Art Noveau style, a trend that is also known as Jugendstil, or 'Young Style', and is characterized by organic motif such as curling plant tendrils or flowing hair. The image on the left shows the facade decorated in pink floral motif whereas the right one displays gilded leaves and flowers.      
6. Karlskriche: The church, built in 1713, is in Baroque style. I love the play on dual-reality; for in front of the church there's a pond that reflects the church and thus creating a mirroring double. It is a grand piece of work, divinely beautiful! When visiting the church, you can pay a small fee to climb up the ladder and see the frescoes that are under restoration. It was quite an amazing experience, having an almost one-one closed-up moment with these religious arts.
   
   
   
7. Karlsplatz Pavilions: Another work of Otto Wagner, the station is an important work. It marks the shift into modernity through its use of new materials such as glass and steel. This work demonstrates that although modernity, with its industrial and technological advances, results in a loss of refined craftsmanship, artistic values do not need to be compromised. The station manages to combine beauty and functionality.