WHAT IS THERE
TO SEE?

During his reign in the 18th century, Charles VI gave Vienna two architectural masterpieces – Belvedere Palace and the Karlskirche. Today it’s impossible to imagine the city without them and both are well worth adding to your itinerary.

The Karlskirche itself is a really impressive sight given that its front façade is a wonderfully clever juxtaposition of different architectural styles. I couldn’t take my eyes off it! It’s the creation of one of the best architects of the baroque period, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, who took his inspiration from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul and combined that with everything he had seen and learnt in Rome. The entrance is reminiscent of an Ancient Greek temple and the side gatehouses resemble Chinese pavilions, whilst the domes and towers evoke an Ottoman mosque. The two pillars in front of the entrance also share many similarities with Trajan’s Column in Rome. There’s even a spiral staircase inside them, just like their Roman predecessor, although these stairs are not open to visitors. The pillars themselves are decorated with scenes from the life of St Charles Borromeo, the church’s namesake. A statue of him also stands atop the pediment of the portico.

After the stunning exterior, you’d be forgiven for being a little disappointed by the interior of the church. That said, the frescos and gilded altar are very beautiful. There’s also a gilded stucco relief showing the ascension of St Charles Borromeo and the dome fresco by Johann Michael Rottmayr, which you can see right up close if you take the lift to the top. Speaking of the lift… In all honesty, it’s an eyesore that really detracts from the beauty of the church’s interior.

The original plans for the Karlskirche included a coffered dome, similar to the one in the Pantheon in Rome, but this was never realised. Instead, the inside of the dome is decorated with a fresco showing the story that inspired Charles VI to build the church in the first place. St Charles Borromeo is depicted pleading for an end to the plague, supported by the Virgin Mary.

Since 2018, the Karlskirche has also housed an installation entitled ‘Aerocene’ by the contemporary artist Tomás Saraceno. It comprises two enormous silver spheres, each filled with air, which hang from the baroque ceiling, adding yet another, more modern, dimension to the church’s eclectic architecture. In the pool in front of the church, you’ll also find another interesting sculpture entitled ‘Hill Arches’ by the artist Henry Moore, who gifted the sculpture to the city of Vienna in 1978.