VIENNA-DAY 2

This trip took place June 2026.

After another delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel we navigated our way with a short walk from the hotel to catch a tram/street car and headed towards Belvedere Palace.

The Belvedere is a historic building complex and art museum in Vienna, Austria. The complex consists of two Baroque palaces, the Upper and Lower Belvedere, together with the Orangery, the Palace Stables, and a formal Baroque garden.

The Belvedere is far more than just a “palace” – it is an ensemble of two architectural masterpieces: the Lower Belvedere, once the legendary Prince Eugene’s summer retreat, and the Upper Belvedere, renowned for its glittering balls and receptions held beyond the city walls of the time.

Austrian military commander Prince Eugene of Savoy commissioned architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt to create his summer residence. Completed in 1723, it reflected the prince’s political and military power. Over the years, the complex served not only as a summer retreat but also as a venue for lavish official receptions, balls, and gatherings, as well as housing Prince Eugene’s extensive art collection.

After Prince Eugene’s death, Empress Maria Theresa acquired the complex and transformed the Upper Belvedere into a cultural site for the imperial collections – making it one of the world’s first public museums.

Built by architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, the construction period for the Lower Belvedere was done first from 1712 – 1716. The construction period for the Upper Belvedere (was where we visited) was from 1717 – 1723. The grounds are massive and we did not opt for the all inclusive three museum/gallery experience.

The pictures in this section are exterior shots from the upper Belvedere building.

The interiors are stunning. Tall support statues and ornate ceilings greet you as you enter the main doors and ticket entrance area.

Today, the Belvedere is one of Vienna’s most iconic landmarks, seamlessly blending history with contemporary art. The Upper Belvedere stands proudly at the centre of the garden, offering spectacular views of its façade from both directions.

In addition to the exhibitions hosted by the Belvedere Museums, visitors can marvel at the architectural highlights of the era, including the Sala Terrena, the grand staircase, and the Carlone Hall. Meanwhile, the Lower Belvedere – once Prince Eugene’s residence – and the Orangery now house exhibitions and treasures such as the Gold Cabinet, the two-storey Marble Hall, and the State Hall.

It was great to experience such a wide variety of classical art as well as more modern pieces especially those of Gustav Klimt. I’ve seen them in my art history books and others but nothing connects like being able to witness them in person. Depending on what time of year and day you want to visit, be sure to purchase your tickets early to reserve you time slot. We found the morning to be the most pleasant and the later it got more people were starting to arrive.

as you can see, there is just so much to try and take in. From the ornate and sometimes painted ceilings to the walls of well curated art, it’s definitely worth the experience.

For the evening event, FIABCI AUSTRIA had a social hour and dinner at a really cool family winery nestled up against the hills in Wein, Austria. We were bused from out hotel to this beautiful mountain side location. I didn’t know at the time we were there enjoying great local foods, beer and wine that they also have a hotel on their property that you can stay at.

Fuhrgassl-Huber, Weingut und Buschenschank is a family-owned establishment since 1683, is passionate about sharing the rich heritage of Austrian winemaking. Here, you can savor wines that embody tradition and elegance, reflecting the unique terroirs of the region. The Huber family is dedicated to preserving wine culture and crafting exceptional wines from old grape varieties and historic vineyards.

With a legacy dating back to 1683, Fuhrgassl-Huber has consistently produced high-quality wines, showcasing their commitment to time-honored grape varieties and vineyard care.

For those of you linguaphiles “Weingebirge” is a common word to hear used in Austrian wine. It simply translates to “wine mountain” or “vineyard.”

I did go off the beaten path at one point to stretch my legs but as you can see this place is really cool and the views up the road from their restaurant were quite peaceful and beautiful while I chased the sunlight.

And that’s a wrap on day 2’s activities. Back at it again tomorrow. Thanks for joining us on this journey.