Music

Vienna is one of those places that encompasses, well, everything. This capital city is a cultural haven bursting with museums, theatres, opera houses, coffee shops, amazing architecture, delicious foods and music. You can practically see its historic past woven in the coble stone streets with bits of Roman, Hapsburg and modern influences throughout the city.

Pay a visit to Wiener Staatsoper, otherwise known as the Vienna State Opera, one of the most important opera houses and opera companies in the world. It produces around 50 to 60 operas per year and also features performances by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, making it one of the busiest opera houses in the world. RealTravel blogger blue12rain has been traveling through Europe this past month and recently made a visit to the opera house.

“I made my way back to the city center to the Staatsoper Opera house where I had a reserved ticket to the Onegin ballet. It was amazing. I have seen ballet before, but this was something else entirely, it was like the dancers bodies were perfectly in tune with the orchestra’s music. Just wonderful.” (more…)

Admire the city’s diverse architecture by checking out the Hofburg, Vienna’s Imperial Palace, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The Hofburg was originally a medieval castle that grew to be a luxurious residence during the height of Hapsburg power. In this enormous complex you can find the National Library, Imperial Treasury and collections of musical instruments and weapons. St Stephen’s Cathedral is one of Vienna’s most famous sites and dates back to the 12th century. It was restructured in Gothic style the early 15th century and features a gigantic roof and a tall, lean tower.

To really get into the Viennese culture, kick back in one of the many cafes and savor some local brew. In Austria the coffee shop is more of an institution and a traditional meeting place where people can spend hours just relaxing or socializing with old friends. It is not unusual to see someone lounging in the same spot for the whole day with an open newspaper and a plate of strudel in front of them.

If coffee shop pastries are not quite enough to fill your stomach, then step into a restaurant to sample some local cuisine. It would be a shame is you left the country without trying one of their post popular dishes, wiener schnitzel, which is a cutlet of veal coated with breadcrumbs and fried in butter. To top off the meal sample one of the many traditional deserts such as hot apple strudel, known as “apfelstrudel,” or “palatschinken” which are sweet pancakes.
End your visit by playing some Mozart in the background while relaxing with a glass of local wine. Take a few moments to reflect on the unique charm and culture that contribute to the liveliness of this wonderful city.

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Looking for a unique travel destination with a musically historical significance? Head to Liverpool, England, otherwise known as the birthplace of The Beatles.

Legendary Beatles hotspots are located throughout the city. An informed traveler, perhaps with the aid of a decent Liverpool map, should have no problem locating the famous Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane for which the songs are named, as well as the homes, schools, and birthplaces of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Tourists can also explore the Cavern Quarter, home to the Cavern Club at which the Beatles performed 292 times. For a more educational experience, travelers can pay a visit to “The Beatles Story,” (a museum chronicling The Beatles’ rise to fame) or they could seek out a Beatles tour, which takes visitors past various Liverpool landmarks, and often includes admission to the museum.

RealTraveler, Fretless visited last summer, and managed to get a picture taken with John and Paul:

“I have visited the Cavern district, and had my photo taken with Paul McCartney’s statue there. This visit, I got my photo taken with John Lennon’s statue which stands prominently in the airport named after him.” (more..)

Of course, if the opportunity to explore the roots of a legendary rock and roll group is not incentive enough to board that plane, keep in mind that Liverpool was founded in 1207, and therefore has plenty to offer in the way of history. Realtraveler Ever Onward for instance, references visits to the Albert Dock, The Maritime Museum, the Liverpool branch of the Tate Museum, and the Anglican Cathedral, which he describes as, “a splendid work of spiritual art.” See more Liverpool attractions to help plan your trip this summer!

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