Today’s stop was Vienna, the “City of Waltzes”. We explored Austria’s capital, starting with a drive along the Ringstrasse, where we saw Vienna’s world-famous Opera House, Burgtheatre, Spanish Riding School (not the actual horses), Town Hall, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg Imperial Palace.
Cobblestone streets and graceful arcades welcomed us in the beautiful city of Passau, but we opted for the tour to Salzburg in Austria. Others took the optional trip to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, while the rest took the walking tour of Passau, checked out the old town’s narrow alleys, and saw the hilltop Oberhaus Fortress from the town below.
Situated within Austria’s wine–growing region, Melk is home to an imposing 900–year–old Benedictine Abbey. It features Austria’s finest Italian baroque architecture, ornate gold leaf walls, 640ft Imperial Corridor and fresco ceilings.
