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14 FAMOUS CHURCHES IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA: Discovering their Beauty and Uniqueness thru VISITA IGLESIA (Part 1)



VISITA IGLESIA is a Roman Catholic tradition when the faithful visit and pray the Way of the Cross in different churches during the Holy Week, usually on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday.

I had the opportunity to join the Bicol Society of Austria in their Visita Iglesia activities in Vienna during this year's Holy Week. This is their way of gathering fellow Filipinos together to strengthen friendships and keep alive Philippine religious traditions and practices in this predominantly Roman Catholic city in Europe which they now call home.

WHY VIENNA HAS MANY BEAUTIFUL CHURCHES

Vienna was the center of the Habsburg monarchy from 1273 to 1918 which championed Roman Catholicism and repressed the Protestant Reformation.  

For this reason, many beautiful cathedrals, basilicas, chapels and other churches were built in Vienna almost adjacent to each other. 

Compared to the Philippines where we need to take long rides from one church to another to complete the church visits, this Visita Iglesia was a leisurely four-hour walk to fourteen beautiful and historic churches within the First District alone of this Austrian capital.

Imagine walking to these churches amidst centuries-old buildings with intricate architectural designs, famous museums and galleries, modern commercial establishments as well as local and international cuisine restaurants. Note that the First District of Vienna or Erste Bezirk was declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

STATION 1:  ST. RUPERTS CHURCH or RUPRECHKIRCHE

Considered to be the oldest church in Vienna and rebuilt in the 17th century, St. Ruprecht's Church is said to have existed as early as 740 A.D. when the area was still part of a Roman military camp. 

This church of Romanesque architecture stands within what is called by locals as the Wiener Bermudadreieck or Vienna Bermuda Triangle. Here you can also find the Jewish Central Synagogue and the Ankeruhr; or where you may get lost, like in the Bermuda Triangle, but in the many interesting bars, shops and restaurants in the area.







STATION 2:  DOMINICAN CHURCH/ CHURCH OF MARIA ROTUNDA or DOMINIKANER KIRCHE 

This 16th century church of Baroque architecture - the third to be constructed on the same site - was built to replace the old 12th century Gothic church that was heavily damaged during the first siege of Vienna by the Turkish Army in 1529.

The interior is elaborately decorated with its builders having introduced Italian Baroque for the first time in Vienna.





STATION 3: THE JESUIT CHURCH/UNIVERSITY CHURCH or JESUITENKIRCHE

This 17th century church with two towers has an exterior that is not really eye-catching and impressive in appearance. For this reason, I did not give it much attention during our spazieren walks in the city. 

This simplicity however conceals a grandiose Baroque interior of marble pillars, intricate wooden carvings, soothing pink colors and dome-like ceiling which can only be described as opulent. This is the church of the Society of Jesus in Vienna.








STATION 4:  FRANCISCAN CHURCH or FRANCISKANERKIRCHE

This 16th century church with Rennaissance exterior and Baroque style interior is the church of the Franciscan Order and holds the oldest organ in Vienna. The organ was built in 1642 with 90% of its parts still working up to this day. 

The church is also known for housing tombs of mummified noblemen some of which were destroyed during the French invasion.






STATION 5:  MALTESERKIRCHE/MALTESE CHURCH or CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

Located along Kärtner Strasse - a prime shopping street that leads to Stephansplatz on one end and the Vienna Opera House on the other - it is one that could not remain unnoticed as its stands between shops and department store buildings.

This 15th century Gothic church belongs to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a Catholic lay religious order focused on medical, social and humanitarian works in 100 states and the European Union, and successor to the Knights Hospitaller, a medieval and early modern Catholic military order founded to protect crusaders travelling to and from Jerusalem.





DEVOTEE OR TOURIST

While this is already my 5th time to visit Vienna, this Visita Iglesia was a first time for me. I must admit I was caught in awe of the beauty of these churches that at first, my attitude was touristic rather than prayerful. 

Let me share with you the next five churches we visited in my next blog.

See you then!


Apple Bleza - Morales

About the Author: 
Apple (or Maybelle in the corporate setting) is a retired Human Resources Professional who is passionately immersed in home and community gardening, related arts and crafts and activities for the promotion of a green and beautiful environment. 

Photos by: 
Maybelle B. Morales - April 2023. Vienna, Austria

 












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