Stepping into History
As my trip neared its end, we had a full day left in Vienna, Austria. After that and two nights in Budapest, it was time to head back home. I was determined to make the most of this day and experience all Vienna had to offer. I had one place in mind I wanted to visit, Saint Stephens Cathedral.
Saint Stephens Cathedral was a sight to behold. We had briefly visited the night before, during which I marveled at the soaring steeples and the intricate sculptures inside and out. However, when we walked inside, we were not permitted to walk around due to the ongoing service. Therefore, I was ecstatic to see everything up close when I returned the next day. When I came in around lunch, I was just as overwhelmed by the beauty as I had been the night before. I signed up for a tour of the Catacombs, which was terrific. The first catacomb contained all the previous Bishops and Archbishops from the cathedral and Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, who founded the University of Vienna. The second catacomb was much darker and contained multiple mass graves from the 18th Century. After the catacombs, I started a self-guided audio tour of the inside of the cathedral. This tour was very insightful and gave in-depth information on many statues and areas within the cathedral. I loved getting to experience the wonders of a place of worship that has stood for almost 1000 years.
The power of realizing the historical magnitude of the cathedral was almost overwhelming at times. This was a day I will never forget, and I hope to have the opportunity to visit again one day.