Museum of Art History or “ Museum of Fine Arts ”, Vienna

The construction of this magnificent building dates back to between 1872 and 1891 and was the combined inspiration of architects, Gottfried Semper and Karl von Hasenauer. The building itself can be described as a work of art, sumptuously decorated inside with paintings, gold leaf and marble. Opened in 1891 by Emperor Franz Joseph I, the museum was purpose built to house and display collections of art and artefacts, most notably those of the Habsburgs considerable collection. The building is rectangular in shape, topped with a majestic dome.

Across the Maria-Theresian-Platz stands a mirror image building, identical from the exterior, which houses the Museum of Natural History. One of the most popular stops on the tourist routes around Vienna, The Museum of Art History, plays host to collections ranging from Greek and Roman Antiquities, Sculpture and Decorate Arts, Egyptian and Near Eastern and Coin Cabinet. Arguably amongst the most popular collections today, is that of the Picture Gallery; visitors marvel at the works of art on display including Pieter Brueghel, Velazquez, Rubens, Raphael, Jan van Eyck, Caravaggio, Johannes Vermeer, Albrecht Durer and Rembrandt.

On 11^th May 2003 thieves managed to steal the Cellini Salt Cellar by Benvenuto Cellini, valued at $60M from the museum. Fortunately it was later recovered on 21^st January 2006, after being found buried in a forest near the town of Zwettl . The thief had decided to hand himself in to the police, after increasingly more people were remarking how like the police photo he was!

High on the list of “must see” for places of interest in Vienna, this fascinating museum is widely accepted, as amongst the world’s best museums of fine arts and decorative arts. This complex is sure to delight, attracting in excess of 600,000 visitors annually.