The Church of the Holy Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic church within the Capuchin monastery, where, for centuries, a special crypt has served as the burial place for the ruling Habsburg dynasty. In contrast to the simple design of the church, the Imperial Chapel, extraordinarily opulent, features life-sized statues of Habsburg family rulers. The chapel has received multiple donations from the imperial house over the years. Over time, the mausoleum has become a pilgrimage site for the Habsburgs. Below the Imperial Chapel lies the so-called Founder's Crypt, the oldest part of the Capuchin chapel, housing famous sarcophagi of Emperor Matthias and Empress Anna. The last Austro-Hungarian heir, Otto von Habsburg, who passed away in July 2011, and his wife, Regina von Saxe-Meiningen, were interred in the Kapuzinergruft in the Kaisergruft.
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.
