Vienna is a city of just over 1.5 million people and covers 160 square miles through which the River Danube or Donau, and the Danube Canal flow. By accounts of it’s residents it is a small city. It was first founded as a Bronze Age settlement around 800 BC, Settled later by Celts and Romans, overrun by Barbarian Tribes, and today is the capital of the Republic of Austria. It is an old city, and it serves as political, economic, and cultural center to Austrians.

After a rainy arrival day in Vienna,  I have been blessed with a series of sunny warm summer days. I thought you might like to see how this city and in particular the Stephansdom Catherdral looks under the sun. The Stephasdom sits at the center of Vienna and is a landmark by which I try to orient my self. Not always an easy task in this city of small winding medieval streets.

Many of the buildings and monuments of Vienna are under near constant restoration. The effects of time and pollution necessitate this. This is the reason for the tarps covering portions of the Stephansdom. I love how they print the tarp with an image of what is hidden behind it.

This cathedral took centuries to build and is rich with medieval and Renaissance monuments. The colorful roof is covered with almost a quarter of a million glazed tiles that had to be meticulously restored after damage caused by bombing in the last days of World War II.

I have visited many cathedrals in my time, but never before have I seen lighting from stained glass windows as spectacular as this. The lofty vaulted interior of the cathedral is entirely painted with color. For me this was more spectacular than any of the many masterpieces of Gothic sculpture or elaborate paintings.

On the darker side, I also truly enjoyed touring the catacombs that lie beneath the cathedral and extend out under the surrounding square. Photography is restricted, so unfortunately I can not show you any of the dark damp passageways leading to the vaults filled with centuries of stacked decaying bones from past residents.

Rich Durnan at the Stephannsdom Catherdral well light at night in the heart of Vienna Austria