The square in front of Vienna's central cathedral is named after St. Stephen, as is the cathedral itself. In fact, both the cathedral and the square only became part of the city's enclosed walls at the beginning of the 13th century. Prior to this, the city's principal churches were St. Peter's Church, the building complex at Am Hof, and St. Rupert's Church. Gradually, as the city developed, buildings began to emerge around the cathedral. By the early 18th century, the area housed a cemetery and the St. Magdalene cemetery chapel. In the late 19th century, the entire square was reorganized and merged with the neighboring Stock am Eisen. In 1973, during the construction of the subway, this now well-established center of the old town revealed an intriguing discovery: the underground St. Virgilius Chapel, connected to the Magdalene Chapel. Today, a mosaic on the square marks the outline of Virgilius Chapel, adding a layer of historical intrigue to this vibrant part of Vienna.
From Stephansplatz, we meandered through the time-worn cobbles of Karntrashtrasse, arriving at the venerable Albertina Gallery. There, a unique Monet exhibition unfolded before our eyes, uniting his masterpieces from global museums. This collection showcased the same locales captured at varying seasons and times, revealing Monet's genius in a new light. Our stroll culminated at the old market square, where we were delighted by a humorous tale reminiscent of Mark Twain's wit.
