For this blogpost I wanted to write about my favorite landmark in Vienna: Stephansdom. Its spire stretches high into the sky, and the cathedral is visible from many parts of the city due to its size. It has inspired countless artists, and even today you can see amateur and professional artists standing in Stephansplatz painting the famous cathedral.

The history of Stephansplatz is also very interesting. Historians first believed that the cathedrals origins began in 1137 when construction began on the main building; however, in 2000 some excavations to install a heating system accidentally uncovered human remains that dated back to the 4th century. It is now believed that the church was built on an existing religious building that may have also contained a cemetery.

Nowadays, people can take tours of Stephansdom and learn about the history of the building. For those with a more morbid curiosity, the cathedral also offers a tour of the catacombs where you can see some of the remains of the people of Vienna who are now entombed under the church. This tour also includes a viewing of the ossuary caverns, where one can see bones and skulls stacked to the ceiling. Definitely not for the faint of heart!

On the lighter side, just outside of Stephansdom is Stephanplatz, where one can find many interesting and nice stores, along with various bakeries and restaurants. Café Demel is not far away, where you can get some of the best cakes and pastries in Vienna and also watch as the workers mix, roll, and distil a small piece of heaven into each thing they make.  There really is something there for everyone and I highly recommend anyone who is spending any amount of time in Vienna come see Stephansdom and Stephansplatz.